Day #234 - Consuming Fire
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
Day #234 - Consuming Fire
“For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:25-29 NKJV
Have you ever been near a raging fire?
In high school I had taken a special class on firefighting. We got to use fire trucks, ladders, oxygen tanks and high power hoses to train and prepare for a career in firefighting. I ended up on a different career path but I enjoyed the experience. At the end of the year we went to fight live fire in a controlled environment at the state fire academy. We went up floors in a concrete tower and different rooms had fires lit by the academy staff. I remember pulling off my glove in the room with smoke pouring everywhere and I could barely lift my hand of the ground because of the pain I felt from the intense heat.
Everyone respects fire. Fire is hot, smokey and can be destructive. As the book of Hebrews is coming to an end, the author reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was spoken to Israel. As God spoke and shook the earth in Exodus, so God says He will once again shake the earth and heaven. He will shake everything in this world so that what can’t be shaken is all that is left. What remains is built only on the true foundation: the unshakable kingdom of God.
In God’s kingdom, we have received the grace of God which causes us to live in reverence and the fear of the Lord. Why is all this true? Because God is a consuming fire. When we come into “the Presence” we must respect the One who is a consuming fire. We approach “the Presence” with reverence. There is a way that we approach our holy God who shakes all things. There is a way we approach the One who gives us grace so undeserving. The way we approach Him is in godly fear.
I see people so flippant and causal in worship. If you are flippant and casual with fire, that is how you get burned. Fire gives us warmth, light and energy. Fire is wonderful. Fire is a blessing. But when fire is not reverenced, it can be to your own hurt. Reverence the God who consumes all things. “The Presence” is full of fire.
O God, You are a consuming fire. I reverence You because of Your great power and Your great grace. There is not One like You who speaks and shakes the earth and the heavens. Let my life be built on Your true kingdom foundation. Let me live in godly fear and approach You with awe and respect. In Jesus name, amen.
Thank you God for your consuming 🔥
Yes and amen.