32 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?"
Here we have our two disciples not comparing their notes but rather their hearts as they discussed the sermon Christ had presented them. They found His preaching both plain and powerful igniting a flame within their hearts. I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah’s words regarding God’s Word within his heart:
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jer 20:9 (NIV)
“When we are much affected with the things of God, especially with the love of Christ in dying for us, and have our hearts thus drawn out in love for him, and drawn up in holy desires and devotions, then our hearts burn within us.” Matthew Henry
The intensity of God’s Word within the heart of Jeremiah was so great that he was not able to contain it. Not too dissimilar to the disciples we find in our verses for today who, through the teaching of Jesus, albeit His identity being unbeknownst to them, received a divine heat coupled with a divine light into their souls. Would it not be wonderful to be privy to receive such revelation from the lips of our Savior? Just as Jesus’ teaching demonstrated, God’s Word should be the fountain of our knowledge and the foundation of our faith. God Himself declares the following regarding His Word again through the pen of Jeremiah:
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jer 23:28-29 (NIV)
God’s Word is as penetrating as a blazing fire and as powerfully effective as a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces. There is nothing that will keep God’s Word from being fulfilled - nothing. Isaiah tells us:
8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV)
God’s Word is not given to us to be harbored in our hearts rather to be faithfully shared and highly exalted. We were never meant to sit, soak and sour in regards to His revelations we have receivedis H. Indeed, we are to be a conduit through which the power of God’s Word flows into the lives of others after it has first been made manifest in our own. We find in Deuteronomy:
45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." Deut 32:45-47 (NIV)
Lastly, we find in the Book of Acts a perfect demonstration of our topic for today. Peter and John were commanded not to speak again in the name of Jesus by the authorities of their day after the resurrection and ascension of the Lord. The following is the response they gave:
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20 (NIV)
They were simply being a witness, boldly speaking with courage as Christ had commanded and His power in their lives did not go unnoticed for we also find the following in Acts regarding Peter and John:
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)
The fire of God’s Word, ignited in our hearts through the power of the precious Holy Spirit, will change our world for Christ just as it did in the days of Peter and John. Nothing has changed. The Word is still as powerful. Believer, pray that God ignites a fire in our hearts to powerfully, unashamedly proclaim His Word to a needy and hurting world.