Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 24:32 (New International Version)

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?”

This verse comes after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Two of His followers had walked and talked with him for a while. Once they realized it was the risen Jesus, He disappeared from among them. Then they ask one another,

were not our hearts burning within us

When are we filled with excitement? Filled with a burning sensation? Watching a football game? Watching smoke come from under the hood of the car or out of the oven at dinner time?

When was the last time reading the Bible caused our hearts to burn within us? When was the last time the thought of serving others caused our hearts to burn within us?

Oh, well, but those guys had spent the afternoon with the risen Saviour. If I had been there I would have felt the same. They don’t live my grind-it-out-day-by-day life. That is completely different… Nice excuses, but just excuses.

God, help me to have a heart burning within me when it comes to things that are really important.