Don’t let the Fire go out!
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:11
We have had several days of freezing temperatures here in the Sierra Foothills where I live with my family. Our home is heated with a wood stove and wood supplied by damaged trees we’ve cut down on our property. Every morning before dawn my husband starts a roaring fire in the stove, and I keep it going through the day while he’s at work. If it goes out or doesn’t stay hot enough, it’s very hard to get it going again and the house quickly gets cold. This morning as he was leaving for work, he said, “Don’t let the fire go out!”
Since I am currently covering the fruit of the Spirit in my Bible study, those words reminded me not only of the fire in the wood stove, but also the fire in my spirit. How easy it is to neglect it and risk letting the flame burn down to just a flicker. Like the house, my heart can also grow cold quickly.
God wants His children to be spiritually on fire for Him – not lukewarm or cold. He warns against that –
So then, because you are lukewarm,…..,
I will vomit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:16.
He uses harsh words because He wants us to know there isn’t any excuse for lukewarm Christians. He Himself provides everything we need to keep on fire for Him. He will fan the flame of His Spirit in us daily as we seek Him in prayer and Bible reading; when we “be still and know that He is God.” His Spirit within us will empower us to serve others in His Name and be His witnesses to the world.
Fire not only creates warmth, it also creates light, and naturally attracts those who are cold or lost in the dark.
Is the flame in you burning brightly today?
Don’t let the fire go out!
Charlotte
Thanks for sharing.
I love that song…Consuming Fire, fan into flame, a passion for your name 🙂
Thank you Charlotte for the gentle reminder that we should not let our fire go out. Sometimes our circumstances make us “lukewarm”, but especially than should we let His light shine.