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"May The Fire On My Altar Never Burn Out. Make Me A House of Prayer"
-Eddie James, House of Prayer [song title]
Has your heart burned for Christ? Maybe it has been a while since your heart has been ablaze and even now your soul cries out wanting to be fully satisfied in Him - overflowing with the all-consuming passion and love of God. The dimming embers are no longer enough.
Good News!
Jesus wants to stoke the fire.
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13 - 35)
The disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, arguing over the events of their day. Hope seemed lost as they wrapped Jesus' body and laid him in what they thought was his final resting place. Their understanding had been dimmed as they thought the light of the world had been taken from them. Maybe they wondered if they had followed Jesus in vain. Can anyone relate?
But God: two of the most power-packed words in our vocabulary.
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus let all Heaven and Earth proclaim. Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name."
-Bill Gaither, There's Something About That Name [song title]
Suddenly, a man came near and began to walk alongside the disciples asking them about their depressing conversation. The disciples stopped and looked at the man. They may have wondered who would be bold enough to ask such intimate questions without any proper introduction or small talk beforehand. The disciples responded with [paraphrased], "Where have you been? Have you not heard already about the terrible thing that has happened in Jerusalem?"
"What things?" this mysterious man questioned -- covertly drawing from the depth of the disciples' hearts all that troubled them.
The man listened and waited patiently until the disciples had finished speaking. Then the man began to speak to them, and the disciples listened. They couldn't get enough of this man's revelation! They invited him (still not knowing who He was) back to their residence to eat with them.
"He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing, and the melody that he gave to me -- within my heart is ringing. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever known."
-C. Austin Miles, In the Garden [song title]
This man reclined at the table with the disciples. He took the bread on the table and blessed it. Breaking the bread, he gave it to the disciples. Suddenly, the disciples saw! Their understanding was enlightened, and their hope restored! They saw and recognized their Messiah, their Beloved friend, sitting across from them at the table. At that moment, they knew that nothing was in vain. Then Jesus left as suddenly as he came.
LISTEN TO WHAT THE DISCIPLES SAID!
They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32, HSCB).
Selah.
If your prayer is, "LORD set my heart on fire!"
Jesus WANTS to stoke the fire.
Meet with Him. Love Him with your time.
Let Him ask you questions.
Let Him into your thoughts -- sharing with Him all that is on your heart. This is the "hidden' world that He desires to bless with His consuming passion and presence -- your heart, your soul, and your strength.
Ask for a teachable heart. A heart that wants to be taught will seek and receive the word of God with faith.
"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift my soul." (Psalm 143:8)