Spiritual Heartburn! Had it lately?

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. We read, “They said to one another, ‘“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32). These words highlight the powerful impact of Jesus’ teaching and His revealing of the Scriptures. This passage reveals the transformative effect of understanding and embracing the Scriptures, leading to a “burning heart” or passionate understanding of God's truth. The passage encourages a passionate study of the Bible and a desire to understand its truths, recognizing that the Word of God has the power to transform lives. Those two disciples were discouraged and downhearted. They thought Jesus was going to establish His physical kingdom and overthrow the tyranny of Rome. But instead, in their minds at least, He went and got Himself killed! So they were walking along discouraged. Two disciples, walking along the road to Emmaus, discussing the many events of the previous weeks; The arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial, and now the strange rumors of Jesus’ resurrection. As they walked the dusty road to Jerusalem they find themselves in the very presence of Jesus, but they didn’t recognize Him. The disciples reported that their hearts were burning while He talked to them on the road. Do you see the change in these men? Leaving Jerusalem, surely there were few other people who were more discouraged and broken hearted than they. But now they look at one another and they say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” What a transformation! They were now filled with: Enthusiasm, hope and glory. Something had changed inside them. They have gone from hearts filled with despair to hearts flowing with unspeakable joy so that their hearts burned. When you hear the question, ‘How do we get burning hearts?’ You have to look fervently at this incident. It is the recipe for making cold hearts warm. A burning and passionate heart for God is only ignited by the Scriptures, and it is intensified by our communion with Him. So if you become bewildered by circumstances in your life, Jesus can reorient you to Himself through the Scriptures just as He did for these two men! So then we are shown that: Changed hearts equals changed lives. Their message changed, and no longer did they moan about His death, they proclaimed that He was alive! We all need a good case of spiritual heartburn. And we will get it when Jesus Christ speaks to us through His Word. Praise God forevermore! Be encouraged!