Hearts Burning
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?"
Luke 24:32
The hearts were burning for the two men who walked to Emmaus with Jesus, as described in Luke 24:13-34. These men were talking about the death of Jesus and reports of his resurrection, when Jesus appeared and started walking with them. Jesus explained to them the prophecies about how Christ would suffer and die on the cross and three days later arise. When Jesus enabled them to recognize him, he disappeared. Then these two men said their hearts were burning while Jesus was talking to them and opened the Scriptures to them. Why were their hearts burning within them, and how do we get our hearts burning for Christ?
These two men were discussing events that happened in the last three days concerning Jesus, when Jesus suddenly came walking along beside them. He revealed to these men that Jesus was the Christ, and he gave them understanding from prophecies. The men’s hearts were on fire because the truth about Jesus was being revealed to them, clearing up their lack of understanding.
We know the truth about Christ, but do we have fire in our hearts? How do we get a fire in our hearts, a fire that is continually growing within us? God is a consuming fire, and our hearts are burning because God reveals himself through us. We serve the Lord, and we live with the continuous thrill, in anticipation of the Lord’s divine guidance. He not only reveals to us more about himself, he also reveals to us more about ourselves. The fire in our hearts comes from seeking to know the Lord, and living in divine faith as he works in our lives. Faith is a blessing because we know the Lord is active in every area of our life, and he continues to reveal himself to us while molding us to be more Christ-like. The more understanding he gives us about ourselves, the more understanding we have about the Lord.
Necessary to have a burning heart to serve the Lord is (1) our heart identifies with God’s heart, and (2) we fully surrender, giving God control as we live as his servant. Our heart will identify with God’s heart as he guides our life so we can identify with Jesus’ life. We can identify with someone when we have experienced what they have experienced, and it is the same way with God. We seek to give the Lord total control of our lives because he reveals himself through our lives. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands (1 John 2:3) To know the Lord is know his heart.
Since God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), our burning hearts are consumed by God which means we have a never ending motivation to serve the Lord with an unwavering faith that surrenders to his divine loving control. We continually seek every opportunity to bring people to Christ, and it is the number one priority in our life because our heart is on fire, fueled by God’s love.
Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) If we continue to serve the Lord, ministering to souls with a heart of love, the fire in our hearts becomes an all consuming fire. Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with God’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. (Romans 12:11-13) Paul is telling the Romans to never let the fire in their hearts go out. He is telling them to keep the fire alive by serving the Lord, ministering to others, and always trusting the Lord. This keeps continual growth of God’s love in our hearts which fuels the fire in our hearts.
If our hearts within us are a consuming fire, then we can experience the freedom and life to the full. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) We cannot have life to the full without the Spirit’s fire in our heart.
Today seek to know the heart of God, and pray for God to set your heart on fire to serve and trust him. Continue to serve the Lord ministering to lost souls with a surrendered heart, and the Spirit’s fire will ignite your heart. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) It is the Lord who puts the fire in our hearts, and only when we seek to serve him with an undivided heart. A fully surrendered heart will be on fire for God, but a heart divided between the world and God will put out the fire.
Prayer: Take charge of my life that I might be free in Christ with a heart burning to serve you. Consume my soul with the Spirit’s fire, that Christ can live in me. Lord, keep molding me to the mind and heart of Christ so I can be a light in this dark world, always knowing you are with me and heaven is my home. In Jesus name, Amen.