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Hearts on fire

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Luke 24:31-32
Their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus; then he vanished from their sight. And they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?"

Acts 3:4-8
Peter looked intently at the crippled man, as did John, and said, "Look at us.

"Silver and gold I have none, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise and walk."

Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, walking and jumping and praising God.

Some of the best times for Margaret and I are when we get carried away by something we read in the Bible, or by something we hear or experience, and it feels like Jesus is right there with us while we talk. Or laugh or pray or just be quiet. Jesus is right there with us.

The Bible often opens up even more when we talk together about it. And it opens wider yet when we find ourselves being generous, being givers. What do you require of me, oh Lord? What do you require of us? "To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

I have very little silver and no gold, but there are times when my heart is burning. Isn't that a sign of Jesus' fire? Holy Spirit tongues of flame don't just open my mouth in strange tongues; they make me say wild things like, "In the name of Jesus, rise and walk," or "I love you," or "What I have I give to you."

It is a miserable thing to lose the presence of Jesus. Or rather, to lose my sense of the presence of Jesus. It happens all the time, and it's miserable every time. I think that the more often I act justly, love mercy and walk humbly, the less often I'll lose the sense of Jesus' presence.

Is this really sacrifice? Or is it just "running in the path of your commands, because You have set my heart free" (Psalm 119:32)?

What's so awful about that? As they say about Aslan, God might not be safe, but He is Good.

And your goodness endures forever. Blessed be the name of the Lord.



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