Promise of Rest - Like a Fire

Promise of Rest

By William M. Self

The Word of God is like a fire

It will ignite passion, hope and life

If ever there was a time of unrest it

was at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.

Three days after Jesus was nailed to the cross

 two men were on a seven mile walk.

The two men were downcast.

They were walking in hopelessness and fear.

They had put all their hopes in Jesus Christ…

Who was just crucified as a criminal

and His body was missing.

Every ounce of passion and hope

was drained from their hearts.

Their hearts were empty and hurting.

Each step of the seven mile walk only

filled their hearts with more depression.

As they talked, they found no answers,

 only disillusionment.

Maybe it was because they could not raise their heads

or maybe it was because their eyes were filled with tears.

But for whatever reason they could not recognize

another man who joined them on the walk.

 All of us know the feeling when we receive bad news…

 Our hearts sink and it seems bad news travels in threes.

The unrecognized person who joined the walk was Jesus.

Jesus entered the conversation with scriptures.

When the walk was ended,

 they sat down and broke bread.

When Jesus gave thanks for the bread,

 the two men’s eyes were opened.

After Jesus left… “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?"”

The Word of God is a fire.

The scriptures have the ability

to ignite the passion of the heart.

The heart is like a fire place…

 It needs to be fed to keep the flame burning.

You and I need God’s Word daily.

The more the rains of depression falls

 the more we need God’s Word to keep

the fire, the passion, the joy in our hearts.

When you read the scriptures,

spend time meditating on it…

 

Like a log that burns through the dark night.   

    

 

Scripture Reading 

Hebrews 4:1-2 NIV

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands,

let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us,

 just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them,

because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

Luke 24:13-32 NIV

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up

and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them,

"How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"

 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them

what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going,

Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly,

"Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over."

 So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread,

gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,

and he disappeared from their sight.

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?"