Today Daily Devotional

“Follow me,” [Jesus] told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
— Matthew 9:9

Where I grew up in Canada, the church youth groups in the area would host an annual play competition. We wrote and performed our own plays, and the winning group received a trophy. To be clear, these were not Shakespearean masterpieces. The plays were often silly, with winding and unrealistic plots performed by teenagers who had little in the way of acting skills. But it was tremendously fun.When I was 18 years old, I found myself immersed in another play contest in a high school gym. The place was loud and chaotic, filled with hyper teens. Between two of the performances, a young guy stood up and invited people to sign up for a summer ministry program. Anyone could join, he said. In that noisy gymnasium, no one seemed to be listening to him. Except me. In that moment, in the midst of the chaos around me, it was as if the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of my heart and said, “You need to sign up for this ministry.” Like Matthew, I heard the words of Jesus speaking: “Follow me.” My experience that summer was transformative, and I was soon on the path toward becoming a minister.Is Jesus speaking to you today? Despite the noise around you, can you hear his voice resonating with your spirit and inviting you to follow?

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling young people and adults to follow and serve you in all kinds of ways. Open our ears and still our hearts to hear your voice today. Amen.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said . . . “Brothers, what shall we do?’’
— Acts 2:37

After Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11), he did exactly as he had promised his disciples. He had said, “I am going away, but then I will send you the Holy Spirit, who will guide you and be with you” (see John 16:1-15).And as we read in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came dramatically on the disciples, and a huge crowd gathered in response. In the commotion, Peter stood up and preached his first sermon as an apostle. Notice that, just as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, Peter explains the teachings of the Old Testament Scriptures about Jesus, the Messiah.And when the people heard the gospel message about Jesus, they were cut to the heart and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”“Cut to the heart”—the listeners resonated deeply with all that Peter was telling them— not because of Peter’s eloquence but because of God’s Spirit working through Peter as he pointed people to the living Jesus. Three thousand people repented that day and began to follow Christ.Jesus lives and continues to work among us in the world today. I wonder if you have had the experience of meeting Jesus, being cut to the heart, and committing yourself to follow him. Jesus welcomes you to embrace him as your Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, move our hearts today with the joyful announcement of a new beginning with you. Lead us into genuine repentance and trust in you. Amen.

[Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
— Luke 24:27

Our theme verse today is from the Emmaus road story once again. We have seen that the two disciples’ hearts burned within them because of their encounter with Jesus, the living Word. Today we see that their hearts resonated with the teaching of the living Jesus.Luke shows that as Jesus explained the Scriptures to them, he had a clear plan. He was reminding the disciples of Old Testament texts and stories that pointed to the Messiah. These disciples were listening to the living Jesus teaching them all that they needed to know about him!We have acknowledged that we live in an age in which focus on the self is a high ideal. Everything in life is about “me, me, me”—what I want and what I need. Although the good news of Jesus is deeply personal, it is vital to remind ourselves that the Bible is not a self-help book or just about what matters to “me.”I love what theologian and pastor Tim Keller said about this. He said that there are only two ways to read the Bible. You can read it as if it is all about you and what you must do to be blessed. Or you can read every part of the Bible as if it’s about Jesus and what he has done for you.Everything in our Christian faith centers on the resurrected, reigning Jesus. May our hearts burn with our love for him, the living Word.

Living Jesus, meet us today wherever we are. May you find us receptive to your Word and your voice. Help us to respond in faith and obedience. Amen.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
— Luke 24:32

Let’s return to the Emmaus road story that we reflected on yesterday. Two disciples, walking home in deep discouragement, are met by the risen Jesus. As they recall this encounter, they speak of their hearts burning within them—and one of the key reasons for that transforming experience was their renewed encounter with the Scriptures. They describe how Jesus opened the Scriptures to them and revealed their true meaning.In our information age today, it is easy to treat the Bible like much of the content that scrolls endlessly past us—stuff we can engage with or just ignore if we want to. Yet the Bible speaks against being casually indifferent to its message.Psalm 119, the longest chapter in Scripture, is a passionate love song to God’s Word: “Oh, how I love your law!” it declares. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Jesus reflected this same deep devotion to Scripture throughout his life and ministry. As the Word made flesh, he is the ultimate fulfillment of everything the Scriptures proclaim.The Bible is not meant to be skimmed or approached halfheartedly. Instead, it is meant to be wrestled with, meditated on, and absorbed deep into our hearts. When we create space to listen to God’s Word in this way, like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we too will be changed.

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures for us. May we be able to say with conviction that your Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Amen.

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us . . . ?”
— Luke 24:32

One of the ways we can speak of “resonance” is in terms of human connection. When a person says something that connects with us deeply, we might say, “Yes, that resonates with me,” or maybe, “I feel the same way. I’m totally in sync with you on that.”We can find resonance in spiritual experiences as well. This happens in our story for today, about two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As they walk along, a stranger joins them and engages with them in a long and meaningful conversation about Jesus, his death, and what the Scriptures taught about the promised Messiah.Yet only after the stranger breaks bread with them and then disappears do the disciples realize that they were walking and talking with Jesus. They didn’t realize he had risen from the dead! Notice what they say to each other: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” That description of burning hearts is a powerful description of resonance.When we encounter Jesus in a true and meaningful way, we may sense that something is shifting within us. We are in the presence of life-changing truth.Over the next few days, let’s explore more about this resonating experience. And, like those disciples, may we encounter the living Jesus as he breaks into our lives.

Jesus, may our hearts burn within us in response to your work in our lives. May your Word and Spirit enliven us today and make us more like you. Amen.