I think one of my favorite passages in the Word is "Did not our hearts burn within us?" It's such a powerful image of the Lord's words stirring us.
But the story is also so much about our obliviousness. It starts out with two disciples walking along and the Lord joining them on their path.
"And He said to them, What words are these which you exchange with each another, while you walk and are sad? And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said to Him, Art Thou only a sojourner in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which have come to pass there in these days? And He said to them, What things?" (Luke 24:17-19)
The Lord is omniscient, and yet He asks them why they are sad. And they wonder how He doesn't know what is going on when this is the biggest thing that has happened! Something monumental just happened in their lives and this Person asks them "Why are you sad?"
How often does that happen to us? We're going through something huge and the Lord asks us casually "Why are you sad?" and we answer "How do you not know?!" and He responds "Tell me about it."
The Lord wants to know. He always wants to hear what is going on. He already knows but He still wants us to come and tell Him.
I still feel like I am bad at praying, and yet we are told that prayer is speech with God. It shouldn't be that hard to talk to the Lord, and yet it always is for me, so I appreciate this reminder that the Lord knows it all and yet He still asks us to tell Him. He is always there and ready to listen, but I still need this reminder to open my eyes to Him.
"Taking bread, He blessed it; and breaking, gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He became invisible to them. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He spoke to us in the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures? And standing up in that same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven assembled, and those who were with them, saying, The Lord has truly risen!" (30-34)
I love this sweet reminder of the Lord's lovely invitations to us to speak with him, to walk with him, to know Him. I love the way his Holy Spirit draws our hearts and woos us with questions! From the very first question recorded in the Bible from God's mouth in Genesis 3:9, God has been calling to his fallen humanity, inviting us back into relationship with Him: "But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?'" How wondrous it is that the God of all Creation deigns to ask questions of his creatures, not to learn from us but to allow US to learn how much we need Him! Prayer--this speaking with God--is not about the transmission of information but about the precious relationship that is forged in the process. Thank you, Alison, for this beautiful reminder of this blessed privilege He has lavished on us!
ReplyDeleteRight! He asks us questions from the beginning! He knows and He still wants to be told.
DeleteI know this and I still need the constant reminders that He cares.
Thank you for your comment! <3