Of Faith & Fire
Jesus has called His believers to faithfulness while promising them fire.
We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22b)
Those who are set firm in their faith, steadfast upon their feet and solid in great difficulty already knowingly live:
there is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved. (Acts 4:12)
The firey stones Christians must travel have Jesus' footprints trod well into them.
As with the prophet Daniel's three friends - Shadrach, Meshach and Abdenego fires are not be retreated from, but stood within. It is in the heat of the trial, staying in the flames that threaten and burn, the faithful are refined and learn His presence before they see His rescue.
There is little death to self without first falling upon the knees in the garden-fire of the soul's travail; wishing to be devoted to the Father first and foremost for the few fleeting breaths that remain upon earth.
We learn where Jesus wept when we too weep amidst the flames of travail at our own Gethsemane.
Jesus bled tears in the Garden, He was shamed in the courts and finally tortured upon Golgotha. It was amidst the scum of life that the faithfulness of Jesus shone and so eternal life was won.
The call of Divine faithfulness is for human reciprocity.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"Oh that each Christian would lay hold of grace as they first took hold to sin".
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