Where’s the Fire?

Is our Christianity visible, or do we keep it well hidden? – Perhaps we don’t want to offend, or need to be more accepted by the world? Are we doing our best to live and work for God, but find it a struggle living up to His standards?

Christianity is not an optional extra. It’s a new life. It involves dying to self and living for Jesus. It’s not about what we do, or how we feel, or even where we’re going. It’s about who we are.

In Christ we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We can’t live in the new and hold on to the old, ‘for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3).

As the prodigal son came home in rags, covered with guilt and shame, dreading what his father might say to him, he was prepared to beg for forgiveness. But the father received him with a loving embrace, clothed him in the finest robe and prepared a feast to celebrate. His long lost son had come home.(Luke 15:11-23).

As all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), let’s come home to the Father in humility and receive His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), so that in Jesus we can become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If Jesus is who He says He is, and we believe the words He spoke, shouldn’t we be blown away by the prospects that lie in store for us? ‘It is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12:32).

Let’s shout it from the rooftops and share with as many people as we’re able to. Who has the secret of eternal life? We have. Let’s live as if it were true - because it is.

John the baptist said, ‘One who is more powerful than I will come. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire’ (Luke 3:16).

The fire of the Holy Spirit - when it burns it quickens our spirit and takes us into the very throne room of God (Hebrews 4:16). We have personal access to the Father, and to the King of kings, who’s loved us with an everlasting love, and given us of His life, so that we may live.

When the disciples on the road to Emmaus realised they were walking with Jesus, they said to each other, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32).

Do our hearts burn with excitement as we realise the extent of God’s love for us? Or has the fire gone out?

Paul said to Timothy, ‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you’ (2 Timothy 1:6). Let’s re-kindle that flame. Feed the fire with the Word of God and see it burn once more.

Prayer: Father, has my love for You gone cold? Have I put myself and the world ahead of You in my life? You know I love You, but sometimes you seem so far away. Help me to feed on Your Scriptures and receive them personally to myself. As I look to You and begin to understand the extent of Your love for me, I pray You would fan the embers in my heart into flame, so they burn for You once more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.