The Fire

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought"1 (Lyrics)

2 Timothy 1:6-7 – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (NIV)

Fire travels. It can leap from tree to tree above ground or travel underground by means of tree roots. This happened on a neighbour's property. They had completed a burn a week before, making sure that the site was thoroughly doused with water and raked over when they were done. Being experienced with burns, they had been careful and were quite sure the fire was out before they left the site. A week later, however, they awoke to the smell of smoke. Leaping up and running to the window, they couldn't believe their eyes. A large tree, quite a distance from the original burn site was aflame. The fire from the burn the week before had gone underground and smouldered, gradually creeping along tiny roots, gathering momentum until it burst into flame when it reached the main trunk of the tree.

Sometimes, life douses us with the waters of discouragement, pain, and suffering. It rains on our parade. It rakes the dirt of disappointment and scorn upon our reputation, our achievements, and our ideas. It quells the fire of our soul, leaving us feeling empty, burned out, and lifeless. We wonder whether we will ever be filled with the passion of Christ's fire within us again.

The good news is "Yes", because for the Christian, "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4b NIV)

The world may try to douse the fire of Christ's passion within us, and we may even allow it to do so for a time, but amidst it all, the power of the Holy Spirit smoulders on, patiently waiting for us once again to fan into flame the gift of God within us.Today, we may be feeling like our fire for Christ has been effectively doused, buried, extinguished. If so, we must not believe it. That feeling is a lie. The One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. Fight back. Trust God. Let's avail ourselves of His strength and power. Get busy fanning the gift of God, who is patiently waiting within us, to burst back into the renewed flames of passionate life in Christ.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us. Bless us with motivation and power to fan into flame the gift within us: the gift of Your Holy Spirit. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada

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