Door County Mocha Mint Coffee is decorating the inside of my cup right now and enticing my taste buds to enjoy a second cup. I think I will oblige them.
Our Scripture today takes us on the road to Emmaus where we find two disciples of Jesus walking along. They were distraught from the events that had taken place over the last few days. It was during this walk that the resurrected Jesus appeared to them, walked with them, and spoke to them. They recounted the story of the women not finding the body to Jesus, because at first they did not recognize Him
Luke 24:13-35New International Version (NIV)
On the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
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?”
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.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
I highlighted verse 32 above. We see that the walk and talk with Jesus caused their hearts to burn with passion and desire as Jesus opened and explained the scriptures to them. I call this Holy Heartburn." These are the times when after prayer and seeking the Lord the Scriptures are illuminated within our hearts causing an emotional response of joy. It is those times when you just knew that God has spoken to you.
I occasionally suffer from physical heartburn when I eat too many jalapeno peppers for dinner. I have to take an antacid for relief and can't wait for the fire in my stomach to die out. Holy Heartburn however is the type you just never want to see end. But as with all things if you want it, you have to seek it. This takes time devoted to prayer and Bible study. This takes some quiet time. I also recommend that you journal these times and what God said to you. I find that when the world has given me some heartache or stress I can go back and see that God spoke once before and He can again.
So do you allow your schedule to be an antacid that keeps you from Holy Heartburn? Won't you make some time to experience something that you never want to end? I hope so. That is my prayer for you.
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