“That just burns me up!”
Have you ever heard or used this saying?  I remember hearing and saying this while growing up.
In most instances, that saying was a reaction after seeing or hearing something that just wasn’t right and mad you upset.  You evidently were passionate about what was going on to set you “on fire”.
Well, today when I read Luke 24:32 there was a passion burning inside the two men who were walking along the road to Emmaus.  But in this instance, the phrase “That just burns me up!” wasn’t for something that made them upset.
In verse 32 it says, “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?”  At this point in the story the two men had been walking on a road, a man had joined in on their conversation about the happenings of Christ, and they had no clue that Jesus was the man who was walking with them.  They told all about this man about the wonderful events that happened in Jesus’ life, how He was going to be the Savior, how He was killed, and now how they had gotten word that Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
When reading this story I could sense their concern, doubt, excitement, and sadness.  All these mixed emotions were stirring in their hearts and minds.  Then it all changed.  Jesus eventually revealed Himself to the two men. And just as quick as He did so, He disappeared.
Can you imagine the looks on their faces?  Passion began to burn inside of their hearts.  They clearly could say, “That just burns me up!” and have a pep in their step and enthusiasm running through their bodies.  Their burning wasn’t for something that made them upset, but for a feeling they couldn’t wait to positively share with others.
Has God lit a fire within you?  Is your heart burning for Jesus?  If not, let me encourage you to do a few things:

• Pray.  Pray through the good and bad times.
• Read the bible.  Even if it is just one verse, a devotional with scripture in it, or a plan of reading it through a year like I’m doing.  Read God’s word.
• Attend a church.  Find fellowship with other Christian believers and find encouragement through it all.
• Listen to Christian music.  I don’t care it you fancy rap, rock, country, classical, jazz, whatever…there is great Christian music out there that is played in your style.  Fill your mind with the good words and testimonies of Christian music.  If you have kids riding in the car with you, and you have a great Christian station on the radio, you have no worries of the next word that will come out of the dj’s mouth or the inappropriate language from a song.  It’s refreshing.

Maybe this list will get you started in having your heart burn with passion for Jesus.
Go and get fired up about God!
Blessings to you.
May 13