July 14th, 20

JULY 14,

Isaiah 22-24 and Hebrews 12

Our God is a consuming fire.  And now, through our great Mediator, our Champion, Jesus, God has shown us enduring love.  In him we have seen a love that will not let us go.  In him a love has been revealed to us, that even disciplines us when we stray away.  This God is a consuming fire.  But this fire is no longer a fire of judgement - a fire that consumes us from the outside, and makes us stagger back in terror.  Rather, it’s a fire that comes to renew us from the inside, to restore and heal, to cauterize, forge and make new. 

Those two men on the road to Emmaus felt the fire when the resurrected Christ was walking alongside them, speaking to their hearts.  They said, 

Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? (Lk 24:32 NLT)

It was not a fire outside of them, that consumed them in judgement.  Rather, it was a fire that was revealing God’s love, plan and purposes for them.  They felt it inside of them.  That fire is offered to all of us that are in Christ.  It’s not the fire of judgement.  It is God’s fire of resurrection and restoration.  It is a fire that consumes us with Him.  Our champion, Jesus, endured the fires of judgement in order that we might experience the renewing and restoring fires of his presence with us and in us.

Move into the warmth and allow the light of His fire to illuminate your path.  Be restored and renewed in Him. 

You are loved!