They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32Something indescribable happens to us when God draws near to us and we begin to know Him. Deeply embedded in the biblical story is the truth that God deeply desires to be with us. Story after story reveals the great lengths He goes to draw near to us that we may know Him and walk with Him. Even death, death on a cross no less, was considered a great joy to Jesus because on the back end of that suffering was the reunion of God's people to God. He wants to be with us.
In our context, where there is great need in many different forms, it is important to make this truth distinctive. Where people are longing for hope and change it is so easy to present the gospel and our Lord as a promising alternative to alleviate poverty and bring healing. While it is never the intention, we must be so careful not to preach a gospel that teaches anything but knowing and being in relationship with the Lord. If God is presented just as someone to help in times of need He becomes a type of heavenly AAA. If we say that obedience earns the faithfulness of God it sets God up to be a genie in a bottle who can be called upon for a blessing but requires no real commitment or relationship. It is true that God does so much for us--gives us life, purpose, value, truth, love, hope and so much more--but none of these compare to the relationship He desires with us.
As we meet on Sunday's and have informal discussions throughout the week I think some of the guys are starting to get it. God wants to be with you and He promises to never leave or forsake you. We concluded the Joseph story last week and saw how no matter where Joseph went God was with him. As God draws near to these guys I pray that their hearts will burn within them as they come to know Him through His word.
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