Heart-burn Christianity!

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday – 2012 at Christ Church! As part of my Easter message I proposed that people “go for a walk with Jesus.” The two disciples walking the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus on that first Easter afternoon discovered the benefits of such a walk in a very profound way. Their questions were answered. The truth of God’s Word was revealed. Their eyes were opened. Their strength was renewed.

When they realized that their walking companion had been Jesus himself, they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 And even though it was evening, and they must have been tired, they got up from the table and ran seven miles all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the rest of the disciples, “It is true. The Lord has risen…” Luke 24:34

Have you gone for a walk with Jesus lately and had a talk meaningful enough to touch your heart? Have you asked him your questions? Have you shared your fears and failures, hopes and dreams? Have your eyes been opened to see Jesus for who he really is?

You say, “I think so. I pray. I go to church. I believe in Jesus. I try to be a good person.” OK, so let me ask you this way. Does Jesus give you heart-burn? I’m not talking about the kind of heart-burn you get in the middle of the night that requires Extra Strength Tums!

I’m talking about the kind of passion, the kind of “fire in the belly” that fills you when “you know that you know” that Jesus is who he claimed to be and you are willing to stake your life upon it!

I think that we need a big dose of “heart-burn Christianity” in the Church today! If we really believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and thereby defeated sin, death and the power of the devil… we’d better be willing to get up from the table and run the race of life with perseverance to tell others this Good News!

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 If we really believe this amazing promise, our lives should reflect it with passion and enthusiasm in everything we say and do.

It’s easy to celebrate Easter Sunday as the “Super Bowl of Christianity” and then go back to life as usual. I would suggest instead that we go for a walk with Jesus every day and ask him to make our hearts burn for the things that really matter!

Blessings, Pastor Greg Pagh