Let God Light a Fire in You - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 16

Let God Light a Fire in You
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'” – Hebrews 12:28-29, NIV

When possible, I love to light a candle to use during my evening prayer and meditation time. There’s something powerful about looking at a bright flame and reflecting on how God’s light brings hope into the darkness of this fallen world. There are so many ways that God burns brightly – through his passionate love, through his unlimited power, through his wisdom that enlightens us, and much more! 

This Bible passage tells us that our “God is a consuming fire.” A physical fire purifies the area around it as it emits light and heat. When we draw close to God’s fire, he begins to burn away the impurities in our lives, such as sin, fear, doubt, and selfishness. The process can be uncomfortable, but it cleanses us and makes us more like Jesus. At the same time, God’s fire ignites a passion within us that fuels our faith and lights up our path so we can see where we’re going. A faith that has been touched by the fire of God shines brightly, drawing others in and pointing them toward the source of the flame. 

We learn from these verses that we are “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken”. Everything in our world can be shaken. Our relationships can end, we can lose our jobs, our health can fail, and we can lose much more in this world that’s full of uncertainty. But God’s kingdom is unshakable. It’s the ultimate safe place, because we’re cared for there by our loving and powerful Creator. 

The passage continues by saying: “let us be thankful.” In response to being included in God’s kingdom, we should have an attitude of gratitude that inspires us to look beyond our changing circumstances to our unchanging God, who always loves us. When we focus on the unshakable hope we have in God, it’s easier to feel thankful, even when we’re going through temporary situations that are shaky. 

The Bible then guides us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” These two words, reverence and awe, involve getting to know God better and growing in your respect for God, as well as your ability to notice and be inspired by God’s wonder. The closer you grow to God, the more you can experience God’s unlimited power, his perfect holiness, and his unending love for you. You can move from knowing about God to truly knowing God. When you do, you’ll be so inspired with wonder that you’ll naturally be motivated to worship God.  You won’t be able to help being amazed by who God is. 

So, don’t be afraid to move closer to God’s fire. Invite God to burn away what doesn’t belong in your life. Ask God to set your heart on fire with his love. As you invite God to light a fire in you, you’ll find your faith becoming stronger, and you’ll feel the consuming fire of God’s love! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to invite God to light a fire of faith in you, reflect on these questions: 

• What “shaky” things in your life are causing you anxiety right now? How does focusing on God’s unshakable kingdom change your perspective on them? 
• What are three specific blessings you’re thankful for today? How can you turn that thankfulness into worship? 
• When was the last time you felt a sense of awe in God’s presence? What happened, and how can you seek out more experiences like that? 
• Since God can act as a “consuming fire” in your life, which impurities (like a bad habit or a recurring fear) would you like God to burn away first? 
• What is an area of your life where you need God’s fire to bring more passion? How can you cooperate with God to ignite that spark?

Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 4:24
Malachi 3:2-3
2 Timothy 1:6-7
Isaiah 6:3-5
Psalm 96:9

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Cathalmacan 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Related Resource: 9 Confusing Things about God– Answered By a Christian Philosopher

How can God be all-present (omnipresent) and yet be located in the temple and indwell believers? How can God know everything (omniscient) if He doesn't know what it is like to sin? How can God be a necessary Being if it is logically possible He doesn't exist? These are just a few of the tough, philosophical questions Sean McDowell discusses with William Lane Craig.