Did not our hearts burn within us?
Luke 24:32
Following the example of Christ gives all of us a sense of a 'burning heart' spoken of in Luke. A burning heart within us has been ignited and kindled by Christ himself through appearing to us as; The way, The truth and The life.
Christians can carry out the mundane, selfless and routine tasks that we all know need doing because of this flame. We know that all works are from our 'desire to serve' even if that service is to clean the home of our loved ones or sweep the leaves from a path so as no-one slips on them. Works which are sometimes taken for granted and never credited to you by others like picking up the litter in a public park. Works which take us from our favourite TV programmes when we bother to visit a lonely or sick neighbour. Works which can create a rising feeling of acid - like ignoring the cruelty or taunts of another - one of the hardest tasks when emotion out of hurt is involved.
Emotion, if left to follow its course to an outcome, can do one of two things. It can make God happy or unhappy. Emotion can literally lead us into temptation whether that temptation is to lash out at another person or make us carry out an action we otherwise would shun.
However, consider emotion in terms of it being God's flame within our hearts.
A burning heart can make us go out and seek ways to express Christ's teachings through our actions. Emotions make people start support groups, action groups, charitable events. Emotions make us stand up and be counted in the face of injustice and persecution. Just as emotion can cause persecution and terrorism... so can it end it. Which way is the way of the Lord? Which way is the result of Jesus kindling that flame which makes our heart burn with love for all?
Allow that burning heart within you to continue generating its heat and use your emotions to carry out the good works through our deeds and share our enthusiam and tolerance by telling people how Jesus wants us to be.
The spirit of God is with us. The gift of light that Jesus gave to us on the Mount of Transfiguration must be obeyed through our actions not basked in through our inertia. When you are given a great and good vision for action through emotion, your heart is burning. That action must be carried out no matter the cost and no matter the size. To offer a drink when someone thirsts is as important as campaigning for peace in a world blighted by conflict.
Jesus walked on the earth in perfect unity with his Father's will. He did whatever he saw the Father doing and he destroyed the works of the enemy everywhere he ministered. He was God made flesh.
Jesus prayed a prayer at the end of his earthly life that has yet to be answered.
At his last supper with his disciples he prayed a prayer for all who would believe in him: "that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me."
(John 17:21)
At the very beginning of the church there was that unity Jesus prayed for. As they waited for the Holy Spirit to fall on Pentecost, Acts 1:14 tells us: "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer."
However, before the rest of the New Testament books were written, we hear of lots of factions and divisions and doctrinal arguments. Letters to the different churches were often written to address conflicts.
Little seems to have progressed over 2000 years. People still use divisive argument as part of everyday life. Some argue for the sake of an argument and lose sight of what is truly important -Unity of God's people and a recognition of us all wanting a more spiritual life through the understanding of the gospels and sharing the peace, vibrance and love our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.