Post-Easter Heartburn

The second most exciting event of that first Easter was a case of heartburn. Early that Sunday morning, Jesus, dead since Friday afternoon, came out of the grave, alive forevermore. That was the best Good News of the day. However, later that same day, a believer named Cleopas and his friend, were walking home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they walked and talked of the events of earlier that day, Jesus began to walk with them. The scripture says their “eyes were restrained so that they did not know Him” (Luke 24:16). After all, when you’ve just come from a death and burial, you least expect to see the one who was buried, walking beside you. Once in Emmaus, Jesus blessed bread and gave it to them. Then “their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:31). Then came the heartburn as they reflected on the event saying to each other, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). Perhaps this was the same heartburn felt by Jeremiah, “His word was in my heart like a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9) and by David, “My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned” (Psalm 39:3) and by all believers who successfully hear the Good News explained, applied, and illustrated. As you reflect on the events of this past Easter, may you experience post-Easter heartburn. Oh; and one thing more. As soon as the Emmaus walkers felt the divine heartburn, they, “rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem” (Luke 24:33-35) in order to share the Good News with others. Go and do likewise.

Join me this week in remembering the following global concerns:
• Pray for David and Tina and the church plants in Keszthely and Heviz, Western Hungary.
• Pray for missionaries who are meeting refugees who are being driven across borders due to ongoing violence in Syria.
• In Eastern Orthodox countries, this is “Passion Week” leading up to their Resurrection Sunday, on April 15. Pray for those who will be celebrating the resurrection this week.
• Pray for Lew and Brandi as they travel to Morocco, for safety in travel and opportunities to share.
• Pray for Charlie and Shannon as they return to Naples, Italy after a six-month stateside assignment and for Tom and Bonnie as they arrive in Prague for their new assignment.
• Pray for Lori and others who have been displaced due to the attempted governmental take-over in Mali.