Any Bush Can Burn
Any Bush Can Burn
“The bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” Exodus 3:2
Moses met God in the fire. His life was immediately and permanently changed the day he encountered the manifest presence of Christ in the burning bush.
As a shepherd, Moses had walked past that bush a thousand time, and a thousand other bushes just like it. Every other day, however, the omnipresence of God had been in the bush, and it had had absolutely no impact on him. Today was categorically different—today he encountered the flame of God’s manifest presence, and it would ruin him forever. His life would never again be the same. It was not the bush that made the difference; it was the fire. The fire of God’s manifest presence is what separates the common from the holy.
Today, we will use the words of martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, as our prayer:
Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things. Saturate me with the oil of Your Spirit that I may be aflame. But flame is transient, often short-lived. Canst thou bear this, my soul—short life? In me there dwells the Spirit of the Great Short-Lived whose zeal for God’s house consumed Him. And He has promised baptism with the Spirit and with the Fire. Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.1
1. Elisabeth Elliot, Through the Gates of Splendor (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1958), 58-59.
Please PRAY!
We are asking God for the remaining world countries and U.S.A. states to receive the training of the College of Prayer. Pray with us today for Liechtenstein and Maine.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
“The bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.” Exodus 3:2
Moses met God in the fire. His life was immediately and permanently changed the day he encountered the manifest presence of Christ in the burning bush.
As a shepherd, Moses had walked past that bush a thousand time, and a thousand other bushes just like it. Every other day, however, the omnipresence of God had been in the bush, and it had had absolutely no impact on him. Today was categorically different—today he encountered the flame of God’s manifest presence, and it would ruin him forever. His life would never again be the same. It was not the bush that made the difference; it was the fire. The fire of God’s manifest presence is what separates the common from the holy.
Today, we will use the words of martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, as our prayer:
Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things. Saturate me with the oil of Your Spirit that I may be aflame. But flame is transient, often short-lived. Canst thou bear this, my soul—short life? In me there dwells the Spirit of the Great Short-Lived whose zeal for God’s house consumed Him. And He has promised baptism with the Spirit and with the Fire. Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.1
1. Elisabeth Elliot, Through the Gates of Splendor (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1958), 58-59.
Please PRAY!
We are asking God for the remaining world countries and U.S.A. states to receive the training of the College of Prayer. Pray with us today for Liechtenstein and Maine.
This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.
YEAR ON FIRE
© Fred A. Hartley, III
All rights reserved
Unless otherwise indicated, the English Standard Bible (ESV) is used.
Posted in Year on Fire
No Comments