Stoke the Fire
Chatting about life with friends around a camp fire is a special memory. There is something about gazing into the flames that has a relaxing and almost spiritual element. If you put enough wood on the fire late at night, when you wake up in the morning, there may be enough hot coals to get the fire going again (with a little coaxing).
I can remember waking up early on a cold morning and going across to the previous night’s fire to find just ashes. I had no paper or matches, but I gathered kindling, and went back to gently dig into the grey cold ashes with a stick. There was a hint of warmth and a glimmer of red under the grey. Patiently placing a small bundle of leaves and twigs on the coals, I knelt and began to gently blow. Then the glimmer of red grew a little brighter. There was a waft of smoke, and then a burst of small flame.
“My dream is to see every person sharing Jesus—
in rhythm with God’s heart.”
Patiently gathering larger sticks and placing them in a pattern that allows the fire to breathe, leads the fire to grow in brightness and warmth. The stoking of a fire is a good illustration of our spiritual life. If we neglect to keep the fuel coming, the fire will quickly die down and lose both it’s radiance and heat. How do we keep our faith shining? How do we keep it exuding the warmth and grace of Jesus Christ our Saviour? If we are honest, our walk with Jesus can lose its vibrancy and warmth as described by John about the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:6. “But I have this complaint against you. You do not love me or each other as you did at first.”
Loss of love for Jesus and others is often associated with discontent, discouragement, or even criticism. It is like the flame of faith has died down and there is just a pile of grey ashes with no evidence of light or warmth. The world we live in is toxic to faith. It does everything possible to dampen down the flame of light that Jesus placed in our hearts when we came to believe in him. I know from personal experience that sometimes the flame flickers and joy does too. What can we do to keep our faith shining? To keep the flame burning, we need to trust in Jesus.
Taking time reading scripture and reflecting in prayer and meditation is critical to keep the flame going. This is not an act of legalism, but an act of trust and reliance on God. Daily devotions are like fuel on the fire. Sometimes I leave that time still feeling a bit flat. However, I know from experience that God will use it at some time, in some place, to keep the light of hope shining in my life. In 2023 our Discipleship Ministries team is going to provide resources and ideas to encourage churches and individuals to connect with Jesus on a daily basis. However, you do not need to wait for these resources. You can start again by simply reading a gospel such as Mark. Underlining key words helps me concentrate. I also write down a few thoughts which I reflect on in prayer.
Many of you are experienced followers of a devotional life and can share your story with others. There is something about receiving grace and love from God that motivates us to share. Faith that comes from gratitude is contagious. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who is the living fire of God that transforms our lives. The Spirit of God is at work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. It transforms our experience through a miracle of grace—it is not about us anymore—it is about Jesus and wanting to share Him with others. We start to pray for people, look for opportunities to help, and make a difference for God. People are not projects, but they are individuals who God loves and wants to come to Him.
I have been reflecting on Paul’s letter to Timothy in which he encourages him to fan the flames of the spiritual gift God gave him. He reminds Timothy that God does not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (See 2 Timothy 1:3-6). As we connect with God, He is the one who builds our faith. My dream is to see every person sharing Jesus—in rhythm with God’s heart. Coming into God’s presence daily helps me to grow a little more like Jesus and be in tune with His heart. Keep the light shining that Jesus has put in your life through faith.
