Captivated

What is it that has captivated your heart, seized your passion? Why did it captivate your heart? How did that happen? One of my favorite quotes in the Bible is from the visit with Christ on the road to Emmaus: "Weren't our hearts burning within us while he talked with us...?" What was Jesus doing that caught their hearts on fire? *Jesus talked with them. *He opened the Word to them. *He just walked alongside them. What captivated their passion? What were they doing? *Listening to Jesus. *Being open/receptive to what He had to say. *Inviting Him to STAY with them. How have you listened to Jesus recently? What was the last thing He said to which you felt open or ready to act? Do you ever just ask Him to sit with you a while--STAY? Remember as a child longing for a friend or favorite cousin to STAY longer, PLAY just another hour. Wonder why we rarely beg the Lord to SIT a while, PLAY longer? Ever noticed the state of mind of the travelers on the road to Emmaus, those two who got a special visit from the newly risen Christ? Actually, they were a bit like we are on most days: *blind to Who He was. *depressed about what was happening around them. *their hopes were destroyed; expectations ravaged. *unable to find Jesus anywhere they looked. The travelers finally recognized Him when He blessed the food. Ahh, we do see the blessings. We see the evidence of Him. What about this challenge? *Can you look OUT...even when you cannot see Him? 'Cause He's there! *Can you look UP...even when things look bleak? 'Cause He's in control! *Can you look IN...even when you've moved away from Him & lost your trust? 'Cause He's STILL with you. How did the travelers react once they recognized Jesus (once He blessed them)? *They reacted IMMEDIATELY. They returned to Jerusalem. *They reacted POSITIVELY: It is true! He is risen! He's alive!! *They reacted EMPHATICALLY. In summary, "Folks, our hearts burned; He spoke to us; He's alive." They went home to TESTIFY! How would such an intimate encounter with Christ captivate your heart? Do you need to SEE, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL Him to believe? How might sharing such a personal experience of yours with Jesus compel another person to be captivated by Him? How will you stretch out your hands to offer the Bread to another searching beggar? At the end of Luke 24, Jesus blesses the people again...then He leaves...again. But He leaves an important instruction: Wait for the Power, then tell everyone. Friends, we don't have to wait for the Power of the Spirit any more. He came on us in all His power the moment we accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord. That same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and submitted all things to His authority LIVES IN US. In fact,we don't have to wait on the Power--He's waiting on US now! How will you invite Him to captivate you-- *to walk with you... *to speak to you... *to stay with you?