Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us?
In our ministry, Cameron and I meet many people and regularly interact with a wide variety of Christian leaders. Most of these meetings are wonderful, but occasionally we meet someone who leaves a particularly strong impression—and then we find ourselves wondering whether that impression was good or bad.
One of the criteria we use to reflect on this comes from the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. For most of the story, the disciples have no idea that it is Jesus who is walking and talking with them. It is only toward the end that they recognise Him, and then He disappears (Luke 24:31).
They then ask each other this question:
Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? – Luke 24:32 NIV
Cameron and I have learned to ask ourselves the same question whenever we try to discern whether someone brings Godly counsel to our lives.
Over the years, we have met some amazing, God-fearing, biblically sound, and Spirit-filled men and women of God, and they all have this one thing in common: your heart burns with more excitement for Jesus than it did before you met them.
Take note of how your heart feels after a conversation or sermon. Is it burning within you in a good way? Or did it leave you feeling inferior, manipulated, riddled with guilt, covered in shame, or unworthy of God’s love?
That can be a good way to determine whether the words spoken truly reflected Jesus or if they just sounded impressive. Because when He is preached, our hearts will burn within us.
