XV_Fire

XV

Fire

‘For love is a strong as death...it burns like a blazing fire...like a mighty flame’

I have decided I like the Autumn.
I don’t know why but for some reason I’ve really noticed the change in seasons this year as leaves have started falling and the temperature has dropped. It might be because I’m a big fan of being ‘cosy’, but the arrival of Autumn makes me look forward to sitting in front of a nice warm fire, watching it rain outside!
There’s something about fire though isn’t there? Watching it, seeing how unpredictable it can be, how mesmerizing it is, how it can bring warmth and life in one circumstance – and fear and pain in another.
As I write this I’m having a think about how fire is used as an image or a symbol for God in the scriptures. The Angel with the flaming sword at the gates of Eden (Genesis 3:24), the burning bush and the pillar of fire guiding the Israelites (Exodus 3+13), the chariot of fire bearing Elijah (2Kings 2), the tongues of flame coming on the apostles (Acts 2:3).
It’s not just the scriptures either; we use the image in our daily Christian lives don’t we? We cry...‘we are on fire for you Lord’...‘set us alight Jesus’...’my heart burns for you’...
Though sometimes these words can be clichéd or overused, the more I think about them the more they seem to show some truth or symbolism about our lives and our connection with God.
These two symbols, God’s fire and our fire fuse together...Our short lives, our fragile hearts - burning for Him...His unquenchable fire of love, His eternal flame, lighting the way – burning for us...
Jesus was called ‘the light of the world’ (Matt 5:14) and ‘the light that shines in the darkness’ (John 1:5). Like a candle, Jesus’ life, sacrifice and resurrection shine brightly in a world shrouded in darkness by fear, despair and pain. As we seek to keep our flame alive and burning brightly for Him, his flame lights our way, warms us, comforts us, and protects us.
His flame is unquenchable, it will never grow dim, and it will never stop burning for us in love....but what about our flame? What about the fire burning inside of us?
When you look at that picture up above, how does that compare to your fire for God? When I look at it I have to wonder if mine is burning that brightly. What am I doing to maintain the fire? To keep it going? Is it providing warmth...or light for others...?
Paul reminds us in Romans 12 (11-16) to keep the fire of our devotion burning strong. We’ve got to continue to feed the fire with His word, with hope, with patience and prayer, compassion, grace and humility. Letting it grow larger and hotter, letting others gather around it and catch it...especially when it’s cold out!