Burning Burdens

I’d like to introduce a theme the Lord has given and reemphasized to me over the past five years: Burning Burdens. At first pass, it may sound destructive or perhaps even heavy, ill-fitting, or a nuisance in view of today’s fast paced life. Please hear me out:

By Burning I suggest passion, excitement, zeal.
By Burden I suggest mission, purpose, message.

This theme birthed from two bible passages; one from the Old Testament and one from the New.

“In my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it. [nor contain it any longer].“
– Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah was a prophet, a chosen man in his day to relay a message from God to the people. He describes here that this message laid so heavy on him that it felt as if there was fire trapped in his bones. He concluded he could not restrain from speaking it. So, he did just that. He spoke. He spoke because he knew the message was from God and that withholding it was not an option.

It was his burning burden.

The second passage comes from Luke 24 and is one of my favorite stories about Jesus. It was just after Jesus’ resurrection and the author tells the story of two random no-name travelers on a road simply talking about all the recent events that had taken place in Jerusalem. Then Jesus just decides to start walking with them on the road, but chooses to veil his identity for a time. They travel together and Jesus goes on to teach them about the significance of all they had heard and patiently answers all their questions. Here’s where the story continues:

 ³⁰ When He (Jesus) had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. ³² They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
– Luke 24:30-32

This encounter was their burning burden.

I hope you are seeing the connection and significance of this theme. We all have topics, hobbies, and passions that stir and excite us into action. Burning Burdens are just that: a mission or message so significant that it is uncontainable. To graciously release it may just bless you and those on the road you travel.

For me, my burning burden is the message of the good news of Jesus Christ and the daily lessons he kindly and ever so patiently teaches me. My prayer is that the life I walk may pass this same burning desire to those I traverse. I know it’s power, I believe it’s truth transforms.

What burning burden are you carrying? Are you withholding it from fellow travelers? How may it bless those who’d hear? Will you too speak?

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