April 6, 2010
Luke 24
Pastor Luke Lang
Tucked away in the 24th chapter of Luke is one of my favorite Bible stories. It’s the story of two heartbroken men, walking down a dusty road to Emmaus. Jesus had been crucified, and their dreams and expectations died along with Him. They were just trying to sort things out when suddenly they were joined by a third man whom they didn’t recognize. The stranger seemed to be clueless about everything that had happened, but then started giving them answers.
Then came recognition that…this is Jesus! He is very much ALIVE!!! "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 TNIV)
God gives us heartburn! When we spend time with Jesus, we are ignited. Sometimes we might not recognize Him, but the fire is ignited as we walk and talk with Jesus.
I also think that is the way that people are meant to find out about Christ. We walk alongside them…we talk …our hearts burn!
Walk and talk with Jesus. Let Him give you heartburn!
I love this story so much that it inspired me to do two things: get a tattoo, and write this poem:
I bear on my body the mark...the mark of the burning heart.
Engraved in my skin and engraved still deeper into my heart
is the symbol of the eternal flame.
I have joined the most sacred of orders, the fellowship of the burning heart.
It is made up of those who have felt their hearts strangely warmed and failures forgiven.
Those who have touched God and found themselves forever changed and consumed by an unexplainable fire.
The broken heart is transformed into the burning heart.
Though at first I didn't recognize Him, in time I came to know the Christ as the only one who could set my life aflame. I have felt the heat of his presence.
Fire is life...
I have been ignited...
I glow in the dark...
I bear on my body the mark...
The mark of the burning heart.
Did you know? Pastor Luke once stood next to former UNC basketball player Tyler Hansbrough and watched a snake try to eat a frog on a miniature golf course!
