I'm on Fire

This morning I had a dream of asking rock singer Bruce Springsteen what inspired him to write his classic hit “I’m on Fire.” When I woke up, I immediately thought about how God wants us on fire for Him. In Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16, John the Baptist prophesied the coming Messiah “…will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The Greek word for fire is pyr (pronounced “poor”). That same word is used in Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Many people get fired up for the wrong things. One of them is “saving the planet.” 2 Peter 3:12 says we should be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”

So how does one become “on fire” for God? One way is to speak Scriptural promises over yourself instead of death and destruction. James 3:5-6 says, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

1 Peter 1:7 talks about our faith being “tested by fire.” We can either get on fire for God in this life or suffer the consequences of eternal fires. Some Christians will discover their worldly pursuits won’t produce any everlasting legacy. Look at 1 Corinthians 3…

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Even more tragic is many lost people will find themselves suffering in a lake of fire for eternity because they rejected the free gift of salvation. 2 Peter 3:7 says, “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” The Good News is you don’t have to be one of them. Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and live a life burning for Him.

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.” - Romans 12:11 (New International Reader's Version)

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