We need logs
Our heart fire must be tended. What gets our attention gets tended - plain and simple. If we turn away from tending that spiritual fire, it is easy for it to begin to go out. Diligence must be maintained in ensuring we are consistent in tending it. Whenever we tend something, we are directing our attention toward the object we are tending - it means we narrow our focus to see just what we need to be paying attention to and then we do something about it. It is not enough to just look like we are tending our spiritual growth. We need to be actively engaged in taking care of our spiritual lives - not just passively going about life hoping God will help us to grow.
The fire must never go out, so put wood on it each morning. After this, you are to lay an animal on the altar next to the fat that you sacrifice to ask my blessing. Then send it all up in smoke to me. The altar fire must always be kept burning—it must never go out. (Leviticus 6:12-13)
Our heart fire must burn hot. The fire must have sufficient fuel, a "heat source", and sufficient oxygen to burn. Embers produce a heat source - fuel is another matter which requires our attention. If you have ever tried to keep a campfire or fireplace burning through the night, you know just how much wood it requires. There is quite a bit of planning which must be put into keeping the fire "hot" throughout the night hours. The store of wood has to be sufficient - it cannot be spindly branches - for those will be consumed way too quickly. Although they help stoke the fire as kindling to reignite the embers, they quickly are consumed and burn out. We need the "large logs" in order to keep the fire burning. This means we cannot expect to go through life on short bursts of "fuel" for our fire spiritually. We need to plan ahead for those larger "infusions" of life-giving fuel. It may mean we need to take time to really get into the meat of the Word, or just get time alone with God to listen attentively to what he has for us that day.
Our heart has to be available. The altar was available to receive the sacrifices placed upon it - it had but one purpose - to receive the sacrifice. Our hearts have one purpose - to be the throne of God's grace and love in our lives. I think we often get so focused on how we dress, how our hair looks, and whether we drive the right car to make us look successful and forget all the while that the heart is really the most important part of what is "on display" in our lives. The altar stood there, ready to receive. I think this is what makes us effective in our day - to be ready to receive what God lays upon our hearts. Then we consume it fully and it becomes that sweet savor which emanates from our lives. Why would our heart have to be movable? The Israelites would stoke the coals, heap them into earthen jars, and then carry those burning hot embers to the next place they'd erect the altar. I think God looks for us to be ever ready to move when he says "move" and then to be ready to get down to business when he says to "stay". If the fire is abandoned, it will surely die out. God's fire within can be abandoned by our neglect - but if we are constantly alert to his voice, we will be ready to move when called upon and eager to "dig in" when he shows us it is time to just settle into what he has for us to do.
We have a role in keeping the fire burning in our lives - God may give the initial spark, but we tend it ever so carefully, my friends! Just sayin!
The fire must never go out, so put wood on it each morning. After this, you are to lay an animal on the altar next to the fat that you sacrifice to ask my blessing. Then send it all up in smoke to me. The altar fire must always be kept burning—it must never go out. (Leviticus 6:12-13)
Our heart fire must burn hot. The fire must have sufficient fuel, a "heat source", and sufficient oxygen to burn. Embers produce a heat source - fuel is another matter which requires our attention. If you have ever tried to keep a campfire or fireplace burning through the night, you know just how much wood it requires. There is quite a bit of planning which must be put into keeping the fire "hot" throughout the night hours. The store of wood has to be sufficient - it cannot be spindly branches - for those will be consumed way too quickly. Although they help stoke the fire as kindling to reignite the embers, they quickly are consumed and burn out. We need the "large logs" in order to keep the fire burning. This means we cannot expect to go through life on short bursts of "fuel" for our fire spiritually. We need to plan ahead for those larger "infusions" of life-giving fuel. It may mean we need to take time to really get into the meat of the Word, or just get time alone with God to listen attentively to what he has for us that day.
Our heart has to be available. The altar was available to receive the sacrifices placed upon it - it had but one purpose - to receive the sacrifice. Our hearts have one purpose - to be the throne of God's grace and love in our lives. I think we often get so focused on how we dress, how our hair looks, and whether we drive the right car to make us look successful and forget all the while that the heart is really the most important part of what is "on display" in our lives. The altar stood there, ready to receive. I think this is what makes us effective in our day - to be ready to receive what God lays upon our hearts. Then we consume it fully and it becomes that sweet savor which emanates from our lives. Why would our heart have to be movable? The Israelites would stoke the coals, heap them into earthen jars, and then carry those burning hot embers to the next place they'd erect the altar. I think God looks for us to be ever ready to move when he says "move" and then to be ready to get down to business when he says to "stay". If the fire is abandoned, it will surely die out. God's fire within can be abandoned by our neglect - but if we are constantly alert to his voice, we will be ready to move when called upon and eager to "dig in" when he shows us it is time to just settle into what he has for us to do.
We have a role in keeping the fire burning in our lives - God may give the initial spark, but we tend it ever so carefully, my friends! Just sayin!
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