“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 (NIV)
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ON FIRE
Many years ago, my husband and I were woken up in the middle of the night. Sirens blared in the midsummer’s heat as smoky air wafted through the open windows. We were both tired, but the thought of something burning stirred our sense of curiosity. There had been a rash of fires locally, the work of an arson, and this one was so close. A glance outside revealed an orange glow a few blocks away.
We quickly dressed and headed outside, anticipating the sight. As expected, the scene was intense. Firefighters worked feverishly to quench the flames that engulfed an old, vacant school. My first observation, though, was the hundreds of bystanders watching the spectacle. Like us, they had all been lured from their homes in the wee hours of the morning to see the fire.
That experience makes me wonder if we could attract people similarly. John Wesley once said, “Get on fire for God and men will come and see you burn.”
When Paul writes about spiritual fervor, the word for fervor means hot or glowing. The New Testament emphasizes that Christians remain “on fire”. Jesus says of those who are “Neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16 NIV) and we are compelled to “not quench the Spirit” in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
Fire is both destructive and purifying. Jesus said, “I have come to bring fire on the earth,” (Luke 12:49 NIV) Believers will be proved and purified by fire which will, “Test the quality of each person’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:13 NIV) God can use fire to refine us and to judge us.
Throughout the Bible, fire illustrates the power, holiness and judgement of God. We see it in the burning bush, the pillar of fire in the desert, and the sacrifices consumed by flames. When John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11b NIV), we understand that it is essential to our walk.
If you are growing cold in your spiritual walk, make the decision to rekindle your devotion to the Lord. Feed the flames with the Word of God. Fan the flames with prayer.
A passion for God is sure to attract attention!