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Consumed
This week's focus: Gratitude
I handed five-year-old Silas a sparkler while celebrating New Year’s Eve in our backyard. When he asked for two, I jokingly said, “You’re living life dangerously.” His eyes widened, and he said, “Oh no, I’m playing with fire!”
While watching him, I couldn’t help but think about how fire can be our greatest friend or worst enemy. On the one hand, this element is an essential ally that provides protection, warmth, and light. On the other hand, if not handled correctly, it can quickly become a dangerous force capable of destroying anything in its path.
The Bible tells us that our All Mighty and All-Powerful God is a consuming fire. His perfect holiness burns and destroys all that is unholy. In the book of Isaiah, we read that the godless are terrified and tremble in His presence: "Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?” (Isaiah 33:14). Isaiah goes on to say that only the righteous are safe.
As followers of Christ, we need not fear the consuming fire of God but instead rejoice. In His great mercy and love, God sent His only Son to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus wholly and entirely consumed the penalty we deserved at the cross—He is our greatest ally. All those who reject this indescribable gift remain under judgment, covered in unrighteousness.
Currently, the ungodly in our culture are living life dangerously playing with fire by disregarding God’s laws. They falsely believe that they, as well as our nation, can escape the flames of judgment. However, 2 Peter 3:10 reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).
As those who have been rescued and covered in the righteousness of Jesus, let’s boldly pray for justice and truth to be known and honored in our nation. Instead of watching our world play with fire, may we burn with a holy desire to direct all who will listen to repent and run to the safety of the Savior—before it’s too late.
by: Jennifer McAlister for My Faith Votes
Hebrews 12:28-29
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire."
Prayer Points:
Pray: Lord, in reverence and awe, we praise You for the consuming love You have lavished on us. It grieves our hearts that many want to drive Your name and Your truth out of the public square. Please help us to see that voting is an opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve a godly government. The leaders we elect—or do nothing to remove—greatly influence our freedoms. They can lead our nation toward righteousness or toward moral disaster. May we take the responsibility and privilege to bring our faith into the voting booth seriously.
Think: “Spirit-filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with a fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.” - Samuel Chadwick
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