GOD IS A BEAUTIFYING FIRE! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Thursday, 20^thOctober 2016,

Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Eph 3:14-21;

Ps 32:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19;

Lk 12: 49-53

GOD IS A BEAUTIFYING FIRE!

Jesus shocked his disciples when he declared that he would cast fire and cause division rather than peace upon the earth. What kind of fire did Jesus have in mind? Fire in biblical times was associated with God and with his action in the world and in the lives of his people. God sometimes manifested his presence through fire, such as the burning bush which was not consumed when God spoke to Moses (Ex 3:2). The image of fire was also used to symbolize God’s glory (Ez 1:4, 13), his protective presence (2Kgs 6:17), his holiness (Deut 4:24), righteous judgment (Zech 13:9), and his wrath against sin (Is 66:15-16). It is also used of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11 and Acts 2:3).

God’s fire both purifies and cleanses, and it inspires a reverent fear of God and of his word in us. Let us take one of the instances from the Bible regarding the fire- the burning bush in Exodus. The bush seems to be blazing but the bush is rather beautified far from being consumed. The natural quality of the fire is to burn and consume. But here what is happening is the contrast. What does it say about our God? Yes, our God is a fire, not a destroying fire but a transforming fire. He burns us to beauty. Once you are burned by this fire you will naturally stand out. If you are in your family of four and you are burned to beauty you will naturally stand out. You stand out as a contrast either to be hated or loved and imitated. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies, if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do. Does the love of Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (2 Cor 5:14)?

Prayer: Lord, may Your love consume me and transform my life. Amen.