I have a lot of favorite Bible stories and in my top ten there is one I really treasure. Let me share it with you in my own words.

Once upon a time….. On a dusty Judean road two men were walking side by side and talking about the events of recent days. Their hearts were saddened and their faces downcast. Their hopes had been raised and then shattered as they saw their longtime awaited one, their hoped for Messiah brutally and savagely beaten and crucified on a Roman cross. He was supposed to rescue them and vanquish their oppressors and reign as their One and Only King. But now he was dead and to make matters worse someone had stolen his body from the tomb in which he was buried!

A stranger came from out of nowhere and walked alongside of them. He noticed their sad faces and asked why? They were surprised that he hadn’t heard of the events which had happened and quickly recounted to him the story of Jesus, his crucifixion and burial. Little did they know that it was Jesus who was actually talking to them, but their eyes were purposely restrained so that they wouldn’t know Him.

As they walked along together Jesus began at Moses and all the Prophets, and expounded to them by heart, all the things in the Scriptures concerning Himself. They came upon their destination and begged him to stay overnight and break bread with them and so he agreed. When it came time to eat Jesus sat at the table with them. He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight! And they said to one another, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

O to have burning hearts like that! Burning hearts that open our eyes to see the Lord as He is. Burning hearts that burn away the dross and the sin of this world that keep us from knowing Him as we should! Burning hearts that know of and have experienced His great love for us. But how can we have burning hearts if we do not know Him or walk with Him? How can we hear from Him if we do not walk with and talk with Him?

Can I be so bold as to ask you when was the last time YOUR heart burned within you as you read the Bible? For you see, the Bible is the closest thing to Jesus in Person that we will ever see, touch and experience, and it is Him in the personage of the Holy Spirit who is the ONE that opens our eyes and hearts in the first place. But to have our hearts opened to burn for Him we must first be exposed to the Word of God which is where it all starts. Jesus is our example. He explained to them about Himself through the Scriptures. Unlike the disciples at that time, we now have the completed 66 books of the Bible to treasure and enjoy.

If you are new to the Bible then start with reading the book of John. Or you may want to read a Psalm and a Proverb a day (based on the day of the month). Or how about starting a reading plan that takes you through the whole Bible in a year? Always pray like the Psalmist before reading, “Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderful things in Thy law”. (Psalm 119:18)  And always look for Jesus! He may be right beside you!