Jesus appeared to two people walking on the Emmaus road in Luke 24. They did not recognize Him at first. It was only after He broke bread and gave it to them that their eyes were opened to understand the risen Jesus was in their presence. Immediately Jesus disappeared. The two made a curious statement in [Luke 24:32]. They commented, "Were our hearts not burning within us while He was speaking to us."
The year was 1947 and renowned teacher, Henrietta Mears, taught at a retreat where several young men and women were in attendance. Several would later play prominent roles in ministry endeavors. Among them was Bill Bright, who founded Campus Crusade for Christ, and Richard Halverson, who later became Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. That night Mears challenged the young men and women to fully commit themselves to the cause of Christ, and to be expendable for Christ. A few of those students went silently to a study room to pray.
Those students and Mears wrote out a contract and signed it to remember their decision to fully commit to the Lord that night. They pledged to maintain devotions through prayer and Bible study for the remainder of their lives. They pledged self denial and to live disciplined lives for the Lord. They also pledged to holy living. Lastly, they pledged to witness for Jesus and to bring at least one person to salvation every twelves months. They identified themselves as the Fellowship of Burning Hearts.
The famous preacher and author A.W. Tozer also wrote about the Fellowship of Burning Hearts. He identified those included in this fellowship as those who loved Jesus Christ. Not just a casual love. To love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. [Matt 22:38] He wrote that those in the fellowship would love Jesus and enjoy the worship of Him so much that they would not have to be entertained in worship services. Tozer continued that for those in this fellowship Jesus was their everything. Their all in all. People in the fellowship would abandon themselves to the pursuit of Jesus. They would also be unashamed to testify for Jesus to those who did not know Him.
The fellowship of burning blazing hearts was formed informally over seven decades ago. Some have joined this fellowship over those years. Most have never even heard of it. Do the things Mears and Tozer wrote about describe your relationship with Jesus? Or do you find yourself a member of the fraternal order of lukewarm living?
You cannot passionately pursue Jesus and not have Him set your heart ablaze. It is impossible to live in Laodicean lukewarmness when you spend time in the presence of the foremost burning heart of all time in Jesus Christ. Will you abandon yourself to Him? Will you pursue Him relentlessly as Mears and Tozer did? Tozer even wrote a classic book titled, The Pursuit of God. I long to be a part of this fellowship of burning hearts. Never satisfied but always hungering for more of Him. Unashamed to testify about Him. Seeking to burn more and more in His presence. Contented in Jesus and not needing nor even desiring to be entertained as a cheap substitute for substantive and soul satisfying worship. O Lord, let me burn for you so hotly and brightly that others are attracted to the flame and set ablaze as well.
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