Has My Fire Gone Out?
As the preacher Paul writes to his young protégé Timothy we see the genuine concern in his letters. Paul writes from his cell words of encouragement. Timothy has the same problems any young preacher might have. Certain men in the church are teaching error. Paul is writing to tell Timothy to point out the error. Some have left the church over the love of money. Timothy is instructed to stay away from this temptation. To make matters worse Timothy is having some health issues. Perhaps the health issues are related to the pressures of a young preacher trying to stand for God.
Paul begins the second book by telling Timothy he knows his background and it is good. Timothy is reminded of his sincere faith. Paul states that he knows his mother and grandmother and reminds this young preacher of the fine family background he enjoys. Paul further encourages Timothy by telling him he has a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Certainly the pressure of Satan would have been intimidating to a young preacher. Paul is telling his young protégé not to be intimidated. Instead Paul tells him to fan the flame. Timothy don’t be ashamed to preach Jesus, don’t be timid, and most of all don’t let the fire go out!
Today, we face the same difficulties as Timothy. Sin still exists, temptation still abounds, and the fire of our commitment at times wanes low. Different situations present multiple problems. For one family it may be a divorce. For another it may be a sudden death. At times our fire burns low due to poor preaching or poor study habits. Occasionally we lose our fire because we lose focus on the things of God.
What can we do to rekindle the flame? First, we must be aware of where we are. Does our heart contain smoldering embers or is it a burning fire? Second, remember where you were. When Abraham was dejected God told him to return to Bethel. Return to the time and event when you were closest to God. Third, repent. If you have lost your fire it is sin before God. Repent and turn back to the Father. Fourth, refocus - In order for us to lose our commitment we must lose our focus. Refocus on the things of God. Fifth, get back in the Word of God. The Word of God is to the Christian what wood is to a fire. It is our fuel. Without a steady dose of God speaking to us our fire will burn low. Sixth, seek the face of God in prayer. This is about relationship. I don’t mean going through the motions of prayer but genuinely seeking God’s fellowship. There are many important questions we need to ask but none as important as this “Has my fire gone out?”
Thanks for the thoughts
You never cease to feed my soul! Thank you for the thoughts and the insights. As I travel through this journey called life my fire burns brighter at times. Sometimes when the flame is not burning as bright, that’s when I draw closest to God. My goal is to NEVER let the fire go out!
jc in Slackland
Thank you for the wise words. We can do a lot of good things for the Lord and be a lot of good things for other people, but, (it sounds so simple…and yet is so easy to do) if we lose our closeness with God, our lives “run aground.”
TMM
People of the Lord should always remember where we came from. We should never regret the past nor shut the door on it. We should remember as if it were yesterday, the gift of events which the Lord used to gain our attention and turn our life around for the better. Our memory of these things will be the tool that helps some other to the Lord some day. This testimony is our story of faith which we should tell often so the fire does not go out as we learn and grow in the Lord.
Thanks! May your light continue to burn brightly.
A very good blog, I will often come to see.