Hearts on fire
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32b).
Read Luke 24:13–49
On January 12, 2007, an amazing thing happened near the Metro station in Washington DC. A young man wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt began to play the violin. It was evident to all who passed, and especially those who paused, that the young man had talent. He played for 45 minutes, enjoyed the hearty applause from the select few who stopped and, when finished, he picked up his violin case and deposited the handful of coins – 32 dollars worth – that had been unceremoniously chucked into it, into his pocket and whistled his way away from the station.
Some would have walked away wondering why their hearts had burned with beauty after the young man’s performance. Amazingly, if they had shown up at the Boston Symphony Hall three days earlier, they would have paid 100 dollars to hear Josh Bell, one of the preeminent violinists on the planet, play his 1713 Stradivarius.
Hundreds had the opportunity to stop and hear the master, Josh Bell, play for free, but most were too busy and missed out on the opportunity to have their hearts set on fire.
When Jesus appeared to Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus, they had no idea it was the Master of all Creation walking with them. Without cost and without reservation, Jesus ‘sang’ the Music of Salvation and the Song of Hope to these men. While so many in Israel had passed Jesus by, these two had front-row seats to the masterpiece.
And when they had finished, and Jesus had disappeared from their midst, it almost sounds as though they were breathless. ‘Were not our hearts burning within us …?’
This is what the risen Jesus does for all of humanity. He offers himself free of charge, and the time we spend with him is full of beauty and the majesty of the Father’s Song of Salvation. Have you heard the song lately?
Question: When was the last time your heart burned within you for the sake of faith?
Thank you, Jesus, for your miraculous gift of salvation. For the free gift of grace through your life, death and resurrection, I am overwhelmed and grateful. Thank you. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine and Greta, have created a Spotify channel (A 13) where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
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