Dear Friend,

The Gospels reveal Jesus selected a variety of locations in which to teach His disciples. Homes, synagogues, boats, the seaside, mountains, city parks, fields, the temple courts - all these were among Jesus' chosen teaching venues. But Luke reveals one more.

Jesus also taught while walking. Or, more accurately, He taught His disciples as they walked with Him. As He walked with two of His committed followers on the Emmaus Road, "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27). Was Christ's itinerant instruction effective?

Not only was the living Word's interpretation of the written Word effective, it was enflaming! His students-in-transit later said, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us along the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures" (Luke 23:32)? So, we may add one more scenario to the official list of Jesus' preferred teaching venues: “while walking!” Oh, what a simple yet powerful truth this is, and so encouraging!

If we will only walk with Jesus - abiding daily, praying, worshiping, studying His Word, meditating in His Word, joyfully practicing His Word, singing to Him, diligently self-examining, serving as He has gifted and called us - as we walk with Him He will talk with us. And He will continue talking as long as we continue walking. Every day we move forward in our obedience, He will move forward in His instruction - as we read and study the Bible and receive biblical ministry from Spirit-anointed ministers.

And here's something very sweet: His talk will always speak to our walk! That is, His Spirit will lead us - as we research Bible passages, run chain references, consult Bible teachers, feed on commentaries, ponder timely texts, and look up whatever the Spirit's "still, small voice" (1 Kings 19:12) brings to mind ever so quietly - to Christ's personal instruction that perfectly fits the problematic situation we are walking through.

As the two discouraged disciples cited above trekked with heavy hearts to Emmaus, Jesus knew the cold, stony situation that was weighing them down: His shocking arrest and crucifixion which seemed to dash all they had believed about Him. So, the living Word drew near and, as they walked with Him, He talked to them . . . about just what they needed to hear.

"O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" (Luke 24:25-26). Translation? They had been foolishly slow to believe the prophets' (and His) warnings that Messiah would suffer and that it was through these sufferings He would "enter into His glory," or glorious kingdom. What a timely teaching! What a powerful lift! And the result? Their cold hearts were rekindled with flaming devotion and soaring hope!

Again, as they walked, He talked. And as He talked with them, they walked with Him all over the Bible, "beginning at Moses [Pentateuch] and all the prophets . . . in all the scriptures" (Luke 24:27). And every reference He opened gave more insight into their problem and lifted them above its discouraging grip. Suddenly, Jesus had turned their dark, heavy walk into a bright classroom filled with heavenly illumination.

Do you desire this? Do you want Jesus, by His Spirit, to turn your life-walk into a classroom without ceiling or walls? To transform every troubling, confusing life-test into a comforting, inspiring life-lecture offering sound scriptural explanations for every perplexity drawn from all over the Bible? To enlarge your mind to understand not merely your favorite passages but “all the scriptures”? To help you be Christ-centered in your thinking, living, fellowship, and ministerial counsel?

Then walk with Him today, in your current "Emmaus Road" situation. Draw near Him and determine that by trusting and obeying Him you will not allow any troublesome situation, person, or offense to separate you from Him. If you stumble or sin, quickly confess your sin, rise forgiven, and without delay return to your walk with Him. Draw closer and closer daily by talking to Him all through the day and by paying close attention and responding when His appointed representative, the Holy Spirit, talks to your heart. Your Bible encounters will never be the same.

Every new Bible study will initiate a personal revival. As you study or read God’s Word, Jesus will draw near and open to you new light to rekindle your heart. If you don't experience this on your first or second attempts, persist! Pick up the next day where you left off, praying again for His teaching to be released. Wondrously, if you take enough time to prayerfully search His Word, He will lead you to just what you need every time. The result?

Instead of burning with lust for the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17), your heart will burn with love for the things of your Lord. “Did not our hearts burn within us?” will become not a rare but a regular experience. Every day. In every test. Every time you draw near. Even when you go on long walks with a heavy heart.

Walking with Him,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries