Prayer: Father, increase my understanding of who You are. Help me to understand proper fear of You. Amen.
Reading: Isaish 33 key: vs. 14 “Sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can live with the consuming fire?” “Who among us can live with everlasting burnings?” TLV
Attention: My home has a fireplace insert which heats our home. It is fascinating on frigid winter mornings to sit and watch a controlled fire burn a log.
In reading today’s text, my mind went to the seasonal wildfires which have haunted California. They sweep so quickly through the brush and dry foliage that they command immediate evacuation as they consume everything in its path. Entire communities are completely leveled, devastated, and all that remains is foundations and chimneys.
Controlled fire is beneficial to man, uncontrollable fire is an all-consuming fire. In scripture, Adonai is called a “consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, 9:3, and Hebrews 12;29).”
Here is how the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes fire as referenced in the Bible, “Since God so frequently indicated His presence by means of fire, fire became a metaphor for God emphasizing both His holiness and His retributive justice.”
God tells us who He is. Do we believe Him? He is more than just love. In the same chapter, Isaiah concludes, “For Adonai is our Judge, Adonai is our Lawgiver, Adonai is our King— He will save us (vs. 22)!” God is the judge of both the lost and the saved (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:12; Revelation 20:12).
Can you stand before Adonai and be confident that you will hear your name read from the book of Life? It is fire which will test our works (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) before His throne. Prepare yourself for the day you meet the Lord. Whether before or after His return. Please do not rely on what others have told you about salvation but rely on what scripture reveals about salvation and judgement. Adonai is Judge and King.
I conclude with a quote from Oswald Chambers, “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
Action: I choose to live a lifestyle of awe before Adonai.
Yield: I choose to yield to the all-consuming God of scripture.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit of God.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, intimate relationship with God.
Prayer: Father, I receive Your Word today. You are to be reverenced as the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth as Judge and King. Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is.” TLV
Music Video: Consumed By Fire—First Things First https://youtu.be/Q9ZkmMH7Ipk?si=xAGPjALkeaEFC9vV
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”