Journal Luke 24 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones—slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’
And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, (Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning him.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. (Jesus) acted as if he was going farther but they urged him strongly saying ‘Stay with us for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them….And their eyes were opened and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
They said to each other ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road; while he opened to us the Scriptures?’” Luke 24:25-32
Observation: The story about the road to Emmaus is fairly well known in the church. Yet, what could be said was a mild rebuke from Jesus (O foolish ones…), turns out to be a sensation to be hoped and longed for…
Application: “Did you feel it, too? My heart burned in me while the Scriptures were unfolding…”
Man, it has been a while since I felt that. It is a feeling like no other, a feeling of awesomeness and bursting from within. Not my awesomeness, but somehow knowing that He spoke and I had a physical reaction.
That is the power of the Word of God; the physical sensation of Hebrews 4:12—“The Word of God is living and active…”
Of course, we don’t live for the sizzle and the fireworks to know that the Holy Spirit is working in me through the Word of God…but it is kind of cool, just the same.
Here we have a couple of guys on Emmaus Road—going home or maybe to their version of the Venue; beat’s me. A stranger walks up, interrupts them asking “what’cha talking about?”
The walkers try to explain their conversation to the stranger. At the end the stranger shakes his head: “Really guys? Slow of heart and understanding concerning what the Prophets have spoken?” The stranger goes on to explain all that happened concerning this Jesus in the last few days referencing the Scriptures from Moses through the Prophets.
The walkers were rapt; their attention was zeroed into the Stranger’s words. They were gaining something exciting and it was affecting them: “Did your heart burn? Mine did.” “Yeah, mine did too.”
That is and can be the effect of the Word of God: something different happens in the chest and between the ears—and, if kept, meditated upon, desired like a pearl, thirsted for like water in a dry land, first on the tongue when waking and last on the mind falling asleep—will produce riches beyond anything that can be imagined. That is the Power of the Word of God.
Prayer: Knowing You and the power of Your resurrection is what I long for, Lord. How do I find it? By immersing myself in Your Word. Jeremiah described it as “sweeter than the honeycomb.” The Psalmist described it as something to make him steadfast, keep his ways pure.
Please please please increase my desire for your Word for by it I know You more AMEN.