In the few weeks leading up to Easter, as I have already mentioned, I was consumed with Isaiah 52-53, John 12 and Isaiah 6. I thought it was very God like for Pastor's Easter message to be about the 2 Disciples on the Road to Emmaus. If you recall that was one of the verses that was mentioned in the first "ALL EYES on JESUS! I had no idea that that was going to be his text:)
Two huge truths are burning in my heart right now. First, we actually have it much better than the two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus! I have often thought how awesome it would have been to walk with Jesus and have HIM explain ALL the scriptures beginning with Moses and ALL the Prophets concerning HIMSLELF! HOW AWESOME! I believe that you and I have it better than they did! We, as God's children, have HIS presence dwelling within us and HE offers to us the Spirit-filled life! Jesus left the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus...HE has promised that HE will never leave us or forsake us! Remember...they said, "did not our hearts burn within us." They were looking back a few moments to when their hearts burned...oh please hear this...if we are willing to meditate on HIS precious Word day and night, crying out in desperation for HIM, filled with the Holy Spirit our hearts may burn without ceasing! I believe that they will burn brighter at moments, but HE offers us the ability to offer HIM our own heart, burning, ablaze and consumed with HIM and HIM alone. I believe that this is what Paul described in Romans 12:1-3...present your bodies a living sacrifice.
Second, we have at our disposal the full counsel of God's Word. The plan of God was still unfolding in history when the Disciples walked the Road to Emmaus. Jesus explained the Old Testament to them and how everything in the OT was about HIM. You and I have the Holy Spirit as our teacher and we have the full counsel of God's Holy Word! This is an incredible gift that we too often take for granted.
Oh God, set our hearts ablaze, enable us to be consumed with YOU and YOU alone. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord, shine YOUR Holy Spirit in our hearts that we may behold and become conformed to YOUR image...for YOUR glory and our Joy in YOU.
2 Cor 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
1 Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Father, it is breathtaking to know that YOU have taken up residence in YOUR children, Emmanuel-God with us! YOU dwell in YOUR children by YOUR Holy Spirit and YOU have given YOUR children a more sure Word, we know that YOUR, "divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" 2 Peter 1:3. Father, grant YOUR children eyes to see and ears to hear, grant YOUR children an understanding of the inheritance we have in Christ alone. GLORY!