Heart Burn

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lk. 24:31-32)

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered the resurrected Lord. As Jesus “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” their hearts began to burn within them. The word “burn” carries the idea of being set on fire or being consumed by fire. The thought is that the disciples were consumed and encouraged having been instructed by the risen Lord. The words Jesus spoke were branded into their hearts as one would burn his brand upon a cow. The Scriptures concerning Him were forever seared within them; every thought was consumed with the knowledge Jesus imparted to them. His words were fixed within.

Since the ascension of Jesus the believers are taught by the Holy Spirit the truth of the Scriptures concerning Jesus. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (Jn. 16:13) It is the Holy Spirit that now burns the words of the Lord into the heart, which consumes the thoughts of the saints. Every believer’s heart is branded with the words of the Lord. If the Lord’s brand is not upon the heart, then that heart is none of His. One’s heart cannot help but burn within him when he hears his Lord speak. It sets the believer’s spirit on fire!

The prophet Jeremiah wrote when he tried to quench the Word of God: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” (Jer. 20:9) Jeremiah found it to be an impossibility to extinguish or shut up the Word of God within him. He had to let it out! The fire raging within him could not be contained.

I must say that I am perplexed at how so many that call themselves the Lord’s sheep can speak so little of the Good Shepherd. If the heart is branded by its Owner and set to a raging fire, then why is there not an outward evidence of a heart burning?