Kindle The Flames
Now that winter is here, a lot of people are starting up their wood burners to heat their homes. I find it interesting to watch, listen, and see the many different ways in which people get a new fire going. Some people sort out pieces of pine with extra pitch and use the natural oils to kindle the flames. Others will use cardboard to get a quick heat to ignite the flames on the firewood while at the same time eliminating some trash. Last week, while visiting a cabin in the woods, I did not see the fire kindled, but I was impressed by the two boxes of kindling near the stove, both neatly stacked. One box was filled with tiny sticks of kindling, about the size of pencils, and the other box was stacked with pieces about three quarters of an inch by one and a half inches. One family I know uses a combination of old-fashioned pinecones and a turn-of-the-century propane torch to get the flames going fast. Finally, now that we are well into the 21st century, it is common to see the pellet stoves with their electric igniters and automatically controlled systems. How do you kindle the flames in your wood furnace?
These all may be different ways to kindle the flames, but they all have two things in common. They all ignite wood as the ultimate fuel source and use lots and lots and lots of air to kindle the flames. Although most people swear by their peculiar means of starting fires, it is the proper draft of air that does most of the work to kindle the flames and make heat for the house.
And the same is true when God kindles the spiritual flames in our hearts. There may be lots of peculiar circumstances, experiences, or people that are involved in getting our relationship with God started and growing, but we all have two things in common spiritually. We, the fuel source, are ignited by God’s grace through our faith and God breathes lots and lots and lots of air (i.e. pneuma, “Spirit”) to catch us and keep us on fire.
Are you wanting to be saved from your sins and to start a spiritual relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the ignition, and then open the draft of the word of God to let the Holy Spirit in!
Are you wanting to rekindle your cold relationship with God? Are the logs in your spiritual furnace smoldering and giving off too much smoke and not enough heat? Open the draft of the word of God and let the Holy Spirit in!
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17