Were Not Our Hearts Burning?
Scripture Reading — Luke 24:13-35
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Two of Jesus’ followers walked the dusty road home to Emmaus at the end of a long, perplexing day. That morning, Jesus’ tomb had been found empty, and talk of a conspiracy had already begun (see Matthew 28:11-15). The excitement of Jesus’ coming as King had turned to despair when he was executed and buried on Friday (Luke 19:28-44; 23:26-54). Now where was his body?
Someone quietly joined their walk and asked what they were discussing. They didn’t recognize his voice as he “opened the Scriptures” to them. Upon arriving home, they invited him to come in and stay with them. Then their guest turned the tables on them, taking on the role of host as they began their supper. He thanked God for the bread, broke it, and served it as he had often done for his disciples. Suddenly they saw that their “guest” was the risen Christ—and he disappeared!
They knew they had to do something. So immediately they returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples, to share the good news they had burning in their hearts.
When I became a believer in Christ, my heart was aflame with newfound faith. The flame sometimes fades into embers, but, thankfully, the Emmaus account always rekindles it. Does your heart burn within as you read his Word? Ask Jesus to walk with you and help you be a passionate witness for his sake.
Risen Lord, thank you for walking with us each day and hosting us at your table. Rekindle our faith, that your light may shine in us today. In your great name we pray. Amen.
About the author — Norman F. Brown
Chaplain Norman F. Brown graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, in 1969. He served aboard destroyers during the Vietnam conflict and ashore in San Diego, Calif., as an instructor. By then God had made clear his call to work in pastoral ministry, and Norman entered Calvin Theological Seminary, graduating in 1980. Chaplain Brown pastored churches during his ministry career but spent most of his time as a navy chaplain. During one assignment he served three years at Holy Loch, Scotland, where he and his wife, Ruth, encountered the Iona Community and their emphasis on spiritual disciplines. Chaplain and Mrs. Brown have three married children and nine grandchildren.
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