By Marianne Mauti
From A Broken Heart to A Burning Heart
Many years ago I read this quote from Pastor Rick Warren: “Life is a cycle of events comprised of things we are either getting ready to go through, things we are going through or things we have just gone through.”This was the most simplistic description of the cycle of our life and what it consists of that I had ever heard. While the experiences we encounter are as different as our lives, what is the same is majority of things we "go through" are a result of our choices (right or wrong), or the result of others choices (which are usually completely out of our control). Either way it is important to recognize that wherever we find ourselves in the cycle, God is in our midst and if we allow Him, will help us understand and see it from His perspective. What makes a huge difference is our perception of the situation. Recently while in the,”going through something” cycle of my life, I was reminded of an account in the New Testament about two men were also “going through” something pretty life altering.
On the Road to Emmaus...
In the Bible (Luke 24:15-32) we find that the Passover feast had ended, two followers of Jesus found themselves on the road to Emmaus trying to make some sense of the events that had just happened. It has been three days since Jesus in whom all of their hopes and expectations were placed had been given over to be crucified by the very people who had proclaimed him to be hosanna not long before. They believed that he was the answer to all their hopes and dreams for the freedom and restoration of Israel and that he would become King over all. Instead he submitted to the cruel beating and death on the cross the reason of which was a complete mystery to them. They were discussing with one another about Jesus failure in their eyes to do what they believed he came to do, they were despondent and in deep despair over all the hopes that were crucified with him. The journey to Emmaus is both a literal and a spiritual journey. On one hand it recounts the story of two disciples who, after the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, walk seven miles from Jerusalem to their village of Emmaus. On the other hand, it outlines for us the journey of life that we all walk. There are three things I believe God wanted me to see about this journey.
1. They viewed the events that had happened from a human perspective
On the journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus Jesus meets them (His identity is hidden from them). He sees they are distraught and he asks them what they are discussing. They replied, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” Jesus then asked them what things concerning Jesus they were talking about! They replied again, “The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place." Obviously Jesus knew what had taken place so why did he ask them what they were discussing. I would like to suggest that Jesus was interested in hearing how they viewed what they were going through. It is clear from their answers that their point of view at the time lacked a spiritual dimension. The ability to see things Gods way is all about PERSPECTIVE!
Perspective is defined as: A particular attitude toward or a way of regarding something. It is the true understanding if the relative importance of things!
In other words it isn’t what you see it is how you view what you see! Do you see what you want to see or do you have a true understanding of its significance? More often than not what we think we understand about our situation and what is really the truth are two different things. The men on the road to Emmaus could only see what they perceived was the truth; Jesus confronted them about how they were seeing the events unfolding in their life! God was right there in the midst of their journey but because of their human perspective they failed to see who he was. I believe that there are things in our walk with God that we do not understand. Things that is uncomfortable and even painful. We view our situation from our perspective instead of seeing what is really happening. We can’t find God in it, he feels distant and removed from out situation and we fail to see the good in it! We need to be careful not to discount what God has done simply because we cannot see it, explain it or understand it. While God often uses natural things to accomplish His will, He also does things we can neither explain nor understand.
2. They had a different agenda than God. Jesus did not live up to their expectations
Perspective is defined as: A particular attitude toward or a way of regarding something. It is the true understanding if the relative importance of things!
In other words it isn’t what you see it is how you view what you see! Do you see what you want to see or do you have a true understanding of its significance? More often than not what we think we understand about our situation and what is really the truth are two different things. The men on the road to Emmaus could only see what they perceived was the truth; Jesus confronted them about how they were seeing the events unfolding in their life! God was right there in the midst of their journey but because of their human perspective they failed to see who he was. I believe that there are things in our walk with God that we do not understand. Things that is uncomfortable and even painful. We view our situation from our perspective instead of seeing what is really happening. We can’t find God in it, he feels distant and removed from out situation and we fail to see the good in it! We need to be careful not to discount what God has done simply because we cannot see it, explain it or understand it. While God often uses natural things to accomplish His will, He also does things we can neither explain nor understand.
2. They had a different agenda than God. Jesus did not live up to their expectations
Their hope was based on there expectations, when that was gone they were lost. Lets face it when our expectations aren’t met we find ourselves feeling disappointed or disillusioned. Disappointment in people, your life and situations can cause you to be consumed by what brought you there, stuck the pain, hurt, and anguish of the past! It can blind you to the wonderful thing God is doing right now in your life! Their disappointment led to frustration and Jesus said to them in (vs. 25), “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”----He called them foolish. Your disappointment can lead to frustration that can drive you to do or say something we would never have done or said otherwise. It can also drive us to try accomplishing our agenda in our own strength, believing God somehow needs our help! God is supernaturally working it out and you are still consumed with living in the pain of your disappointment, especially when it pertains to someone you love. You can’t allow the agenda of your expectations to rob you. You have to let go of them!
Here is something extremely important to understand: Forgiveness and letting go are two different things!
There have been situations in my life that I have truly forgiven but have found it difficult to let go of the pain or hurt that accompanied it as if letting go of it meant that what happened on their part wasn’t wrong. Carrying that around with you will eventually consume you and control you and it won't change the situation. What it does do is hinder us from being effective in our life and theirs, and cripples us from moving on in God. It can blind you to what God is doing (church, family, children, friends). It doesn’t mean you have to agree with what happened to you but you have to stop living in the pain of it. God doesn’t want you to remain there! Let it go! See them and the situation the way God sees it. Instead of resurrecting the pain reflect over the power of God to redeem relationships, restore loved ones and bring healing. I once heard someone say, “Our lives are not determined by what happens to you, but by how we react to what happens. Not by what life brings us, but by the attitude we bring to life.” Empower God with your thoughts, words and actions to move on their behalf and bring restoration and healing instead of living in the pain of their previous actions!
3. They didn’t believe He was who he said He was and would do what He said He would do
There have been situations in my life that I have truly forgiven but have found it difficult to let go of the pain or hurt that accompanied it as if letting go of it meant that what happened on their part wasn’t wrong. Carrying that around with you will eventually consume you and control you and it won't change the situation. What it does do is hinder us from being effective in our life and theirs, and cripples us from moving on in God. It can blind you to what God is doing (church, family, children, friends). It doesn’t mean you have to agree with what happened to you but you have to stop living in the pain of it. God doesn’t want you to remain there! Let it go! See them and the situation the way God sees it. Instead of resurrecting the pain reflect over the power of God to redeem relationships, restore loved ones and bring healing. I once heard someone say, “Our lives are not determined by what happens to you, but by how we react to what happens. Not by what life brings us, but by the attitude we bring to life.” Empower God with your thoughts, words and actions to move on their behalf and bring restoration and healing instead of living in the pain of their previous actions!
3. They didn’t believe He was who he said He was and would do what He said He would do
On the road to Emmaus they had a preconceived idea of who Jesus was, what He came to do, and how He should do it. But when things did not turn out like they thought they should, they dismissed the whole thing as a mere failure, as misplaced hope and trust. While God always has a plan, we are not always privy to that plan. When things don't turn out like we expect, instead of giving up and or walking away, perhaps we would be wise to see things differently.
Is it just possible that God is doing something we simply do not understand?
Jesus knew the two followers understood the content of scripture but did not accept the message as truth! As a result, they failed to see God’s sovereign plan. His question, “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” pointed to the reason for their unbelief (24:26). They had confused their own expectations with the hope God was offering, and they had failed to see God’s ultimate purpose. And unfortunately so do we. If these two followers believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, they would have seen the trials, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus as the fulfillment of all He promised, not as the end of their hopes. Jesus had to speak truth into their crisis: (vs. 26 & 27), ”Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. "
They didn’t believe the truth that stood before them, they had lost confidence and faith in what Jesus said would happen. When we believe God as it pertains to our situation, we begin to see that he has been there on the road with us all along. He meets us WHERE we need him WHEN we need him to will bring truth and understanding. Believe me the last thing the enemy of your soul wants you to do is bring truth into your situation, He doesn’t want you to have confidence that God is working things together for your good! He definitely doesn’t want you to draw your strength from reading His Word and spending time talking to Him in prayer. What he wants you to do is to blame someone else for your unrealized dreams, and unfulfilled expectations. What you need to do is let His word lift you out of your confusion! The disciples had been staring into the face of the risen Jesus, yet they were prevented from seeing Him until they buried their faulty expectations. Then, as Jesus referred them to the Words of the prophets their eyes were opened to the reality of what had really just happened! Jesus then became visible to their physical eyes: (VS. 30-32), 30 “ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.32 they asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
“Their eye were opened,” comes from the Greek phrase ophthalmos dianoigo epiginosko, which literally means “they came to fully comprehend Him.” When we see things from Gods perspective, let go of our expectations and believe God will do what he promised in our lives regardless of what we are presently experiencing, our eyes will open to the truth of our situation and we will fully comprehend what we are going through! For me, it was a decision to move through my situation as quickly as possible, not live there, pitch a tent and dwell on it! Once again their hearts burned within with a new passion. This happens when you know you have broken through the dryness, emptiness, and darkness of your circumstances. You know that you have come into the flow of spiritual fullness and light when you have left the pain, fear, rejection, loneliness, and failure and you come to the other side having new meaning and purpose in your life! Grace burning within abounds along the road back from Emmaus! “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace is with you” (v. 36). The result is PEACE! HALLELUJAH!
Whatever you may be going through let GOD take you through it and restore in you a new and burning passion AS YOU GO!
Don’t allow your perspective to be jaded by how you view or perceive the circumstances-but have trust and confidence that God understands the big picture. Let go of the unfulfilled expectations and disappointment your situation presents and everything negative that ties you to it. Let the soothing balm of the Holy Spirit heal the hurt and pain of lost relationships, consequences of past sin and circumstances not in your control. When we let go we make room for God to ignite the flame of our heart. Realize that even when you don’t see how God is working things out on your behalf, that He is! Stop trying to figure it out and accept that what you may have hoped for didn’t happed because your plans were limited by your understanding. The ability to see things as they really are gives us the courage to wait upon the Lord even when life takes unexpected turns. The account in Luke illustrates this principle beautifully. Wherever you in the cycle of life events, allow God to take you from a " Broken Heart to a Burning Heart" once again!
Is it just possible that God is doing something we simply do not understand?
Jesus knew the two followers understood the content of scripture but did not accept the message as truth! As a result, they failed to see God’s sovereign plan. His question, “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” pointed to the reason for their unbelief (24:26). They had confused their own expectations with the hope God was offering, and they had failed to see God’s ultimate purpose. And unfortunately so do we. If these two followers believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, they would have seen the trials, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus as the fulfillment of all He promised, not as the end of their hopes. Jesus had to speak truth into their crisis: (vs. 26 & 27), ”Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. "
They didn’t believe the truth that stood before them, they had lost confidence and faith in what Jesus said would happen. When we believe God as it pertains to our situation, we begin to see that he has been there on the road with us all along. He meets us WHERE we need him WHEN we need him to will bring truth and understanding. Believe me the last thing the enemy of your soul wants you to do is bring truth into your situation, He doesn’t want you to have confidence that God is working things together for your good! He definitely doesn’t want you to draw your strength from reading His Word and spending time talking to Him in prayer. What he wants you to do is to blame someone else for your unrealized dreams, and unfulfilled expectations. What you need to do is let His word lift you out of your confusion! The disciples had been staring into the face of the risen Jesus, yet they were prevented from seeing Him until they buried their faulty expectations. Then, as Jesus referred them to the Words of the prophets their eyes were opened to the reality of what had really just happened! Jesus then became visible to their physical eyes: (VS. 30-32), 30 “ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.32 they asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
“Their eye were opened,” comes from the Greek phrase ophthalmos dianoigo epiginosko, which literally means “they came to fully comprehend Him.” When we see things from Gods perspective, let go of our expectations and believe God will do what he promised in our lives regardless of what we are presently experiencing, our eyes will open to the truth of our situation and we will fully comprehend what we are going through! For me, it was a decision to move through my situation as quickly as possible, not live there, pitch a tent and dwell on it! Once again their hearts burned within with a new passion. This happens when you know you have broken through the dryness, emptiness, and darkness of your circumstances. You know that you have come into the flow of spiritual fullness and light when you have left the pain, fear, rejection, loneliness, and failure and you come to the other side having new meaning and purpose in your life! Grace burning within abounds along the road back from Emmaus! “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace is with you” (v. 36). The result is PEACE! HALLELUJAH!
Whatever you may be going through let GOD take you through it and restore in you a new and burning passion AS YOU GO!
Don’t allow your perspective to be jaded by how you view or perceive the circumstances-but have trust and confidence that God understands the big picture. Let go of the unfulfilled expectations and disappointment your situation presents and everything negative that ties you to it. Let the soothing balm of the Holy Spirit heal the hurt and pain of lost relationships, consequences of past sin and circumstances not in your control. When we let go we make room for God to ignite the flame of our heart. Realize that even when you don’t see how God is working things out on your behalf, that He is! Stop trying to figure it out and accept that what you may have hoped for didn’t happed because your plans were limited by your understanding. The ability to see things as they really are gives us the courage to wait upon the Lord even when life takes unexpected turns. The account in Luke illustrates this principle beautifully. Wherever you in the cycle of life events, allow God to take you from a " Broken Heart to a Burning Heart" once again!
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FORGING YOUR FAITH
To 'Forge' something, is to mold and shape something for suitable use. We believe that our lives are constantly being shaped and molded by the hand of God for His divine purpose! This publication strives to encourage believers who are beginning this process and those who are well into it! We also believe a truly successful life is a Christ-Centered Life! We hope you will join us and become a regular reader!
Thank You and God Bless,
Marianne Mauti
Founder and CAO
'Forging Your Faith' is the online Christian publication of 'Christ the King Church' in Bellevue, Pa.
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com\
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ARTICLE RESOURCES
ARTICLE RESOURCES
* The Bible
*Quote from Pastor Rick Warren: "The Purpose Driven Life"
*Dr. George R. Beninate: Is Bishop of "Christ the King Church" in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A Doctor of Theology, Biblical Apologist, conference speaker, lecturer and my spiritual father.He is also the Author of several books including,"The
