Do You Recognize Him?

March 27, 2000

(Luke 24:13-35)

When the two were on the road to Emmaus (meaning ‘hot baths’), they were talking about the events of the day.  Jesus had rose from the dead.  The women found the empty tomb and reported the angel saying He’s alive.  They were discussing these things when Jesus "drew near".

But they didn’t recognize Him.  He talked with them.  Asked them what they had been talking about and what had happened.  He explained the scriptures to them.  When they came to the village they begged Him to stay with them, which He did.

They recognized Him when He sat to eat with them.  After He took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to them, then they recognized Him.   When they did--He vanished from their sight.

Then they said, ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us while He talked with us and opened to us the scriptures?’

Do you ever feel there’s more the Lord wants to reveal to you?   Do you feel that your heart is burning within when you’re reading the Word or when you’re discussing it with people?  The Lord wants to do more then reveal His Word to us, He wants to reveal Himself to us.  Discussing the Word of God without recognizing His presence can lead to theological debates and arguments.

But when we recognize His presence with us debate goes out the window!  When we see Him for who He is we don’t need physical proof of anything-our faith is enough.  One visit from the Lord is worth a thousand doctrinal arguments.  One visit.  One recognition.  When our hearts are burning-sensing that our eyes need to be opened to something.  Something that may be right in front of us-something we assumed to be a certain way, a certain truth--we need to question.  God what are you trying to show me?  We need to open ourselves and be sensitive to Him.

As they ate, as they fellowshipped together, as He broke the bread and did something they’d seen Him do before, then they recognized Him.  But if your heart is burning God may be trying to get you to see something you haven’t seen before.  He may be trying to get you to look past the old traditions.  To not just look for God to move in the way He always has in the past.  Don’t wait until He does something familiar before you recognize it’s Him.  Question why the burning in your heart is there.  Look to find Him in ways you never have before.   When you do, you can rejoice like never before!

God Bless you and have a great day!