Hebrews 12:29

Scripture: 

Hebrews 12:29 – “…for our God is a consuming fire.” (NASB)

Observation:

Fires! I saw them both - the good and the bad - from fighting the fires that destroy people’s homes and lives to the warmth of a fire enjoyed by those sitting around it. How can one thing be so opposite? It comes down to usage. We can use fire to be a good thing like cooking, heat, light, but sadly, it can also be used to burn, hurt, and destroy. The question comes down to the person who has started the fire. Today's verse may seem kind of extreme - that God, our God is a consuming fire. At first glance, we may see this verse as a destructive force, but what if we looked at it from the other side?

God wants nothing more than to warm us with His all-consuming presence. I guess the closest example would be the hug of a loved one, where our hearts begin to feel their love, and we feel the warmth of that togetherness. God wants nothing more than to fill us with this warmth and love - this consuming fire. What do we do with that fire? We can ignore it, keep it to ourselves, or share it with someone else. The choice is ours. Fires! I've seen them both - good and bad - how about YOU? 

Application:

1) Think about what you just read.

2) Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity and insight.

3) Share this with someone who would benefit from reading it.

4) Make sure others see Jesus in YOU today.

TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.