This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Input Godly Wisdom…his Word! (WATCH HERE)
Luke 24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
It’s a heart thing.
It’s interesting that the disciples did not respond to Jesus’ dissertation on the Old Testament with the phrase, “Were not our minds blown away by all the information he shared with us?!”
That’s probably how I would have reacted because as I reflect on “Why would I have wanted to listen to this dialogue with Jesus about the Old Testament?” To be honest, I probably was more interested in the information more than the transformation that would happen.
Do you struggle with this too? Do you spend time in the Bible for information? Do you focus on knowing new things over feeling and believing new things?
Maybe it’s just me. But this comment by the Emmaus disciples is worth musing about.
Do our hearts burn within us when God brings his word of truth to us?
Literally the reflection of the disciples was this, “Were not our hearts on fire within us?”
What also is unique about this reaction is at the time Jesus was speaking, they didn’t know it was Jesus. It seems like Jesus wanted to shift the focus from him as a physical teacher to allow the Word of God, regardless of presenter, to do the work on one’s heart. He, as a person and personality, didn’t want to be a distraction to the power of the Spirit at work in the word.
Here’s some reflections…
The Word of God is given to change the heart before it changes one’s actions. How often do we perhaps read the Bible to get an answer of “what to do” before we read the Bible to affect “what we believe”? Many times in Scripture, God prioritizes the heart. He wants the heart to change by the power of his word because he knows that when the heart changes, what comes out of that heart changes. Read and listen to the Word for your heart’s sake.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
A second reflection is this. The Word of God has power to affect the heart no matter who the presenter of that word. Jesus could have revealed who he was right away, but he allowed the truth of the Scripture to speak for itself. After he revealed himself to the disciples, he disappeared and he just let the Word he shared linger in their hearts. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus was a powerful teacher. However, after his resurrection he knows he will not be around in physical form and allows the Word of God to bring the power to one’s heart. The reality for us? Enjoy those that bring you the Word of God, but remember the power of the Word of God is that it is the Word of God and not the words of men!
And third, the heart that is on fire sparks a life that is on fire. The experience the disciples they could not keep to themselves.
Luke 24:33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
When God moves our heart, he moves us to act. THe power of what the disciples heard and encountering the risen Jesus compelled them to return to Jerusalem and share what they had heard and seen. My guess, this was just the first time and the impact of hearing and seeing Jesus was a driving force throughout their lives.
The Word does the same for us today…it sets our hearts on fire to live for our risen Savior!
Apply: Evaluate if you have been reading the Bible just for information versus transformation. This next week read and listen to God’s Word and ask, “What is God doing with my heart through his word?”
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your Word and your Spirit that works to change my heart. Let all of my life be driven by a heart that is on fire for you! AMEN.