Do You Resemblance A Soul On Fire?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is a good day to contemplate the imprint that Christ has made in our lives through the intimate relationships of daily living over time in our lives and the roots of our cultures. We can see this process in the lives of other Christians, especially families and communities of faith. Here we see the results of living a life that is good and right and true manifested in the glowing of souls on fire. Here as children of light in the fire of the Holy Spirit we discover that in Christ we have a common countenance. We are related. Do You Resemblance A Soul On Fire?
Scripture: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light– for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-20 (NRSV)
They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32 (NRSV)
If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:9 (NRSV)
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Romans 12:11-13 (NRSV)
Message: I guess that is some ways I am beginning to look like my father and my son is beginning to look like me, but the process of the creation of this resemblance is not just a biological one and is not limited to a few generations. Our spirit and God’s Spirit are also at work making us more Holy…more like each other in Christ in the places we live. The process has been developing since the dawn of creation when God said, “Let there be light.” Moses had a pillar of fire to guide him but now we have the Holy Spirit. And this flame of Holy History with the incarnation and death and resurrection of Christ then became a light to the nations at Pentecost…a light the shines in the darkness and the amazing thing is that the darkness has not put it out. It spread like a flame from community to community…from Asia and Africa to Europe and to the Americas. It was kindled by the creeds that fought heresies and great churchmen like Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Leo the Great. And then when the fiery trail was about to go out some choose the monastic life to protect the flame or a reconstituted Judaism in synagogues that shared at least part of this heritage. It grew beyond the Roman wall and to England and France and Spain and then spread throughout the British and French and Spanish Empires with cross and sword in places like Florida where I now live. In community by community, missionary by missionary both local and global it grew with a complex heritage. And now today we discover the wisdom in Christ. Now we too as believing communities expose the darkness and respond to the Spirit using the time we have in this life to fan the flames of loving communities. We too grow in worship and discipline and in government. And the process, if true, honors God and there is no mistaking the family resemblance when we reflect the truth for we friends are on fire. The beauty is that there is no mistaking the effect of light on a place of darkness. Here in the light and warmth we learn to live a life that burns with a love as Christ loved. Here we become beloved children of God. Here we become transformed souls on fire for Christ and the beauty is that it spills over into the very communities in which we live and work. It just takes a long…long time.
Pray we find more time to be with Jesus and family. Pray we make the most of opportunities that come our way. Pray we understand what the Lord’s will is. Pray we are filled with the Spirit and with Fire. Pray we live an abundant and fruitful life. Pray we become more Christ like…shinning His light into a world. Pray that in God we move, live and have our very being. Pray that others recognize the family resemblance. Pray the flame spreads.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 