Burns but doesn't consume
| Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. (Exodus3:1-2) |
Moses is called to God's service. The image of this call is a bush that burns without being consumed. There are so many things that we can chase after that will consume us: Materialism, alcohol, drugs, fame and power are just some of the things that will leave us depleted, diminished and destroyed when we give ourselves to them.
When we give ourselves in the service of God we are not consumed but renewed.
Zechariah had a vision about this. It was of a lampstand with seven lamps being fed with oil that flowed along channels from two olive trees. When he asked about the meaning of the vision the angel declared: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty.
When we serve God, the Spirit blazes in us like a flame. We burn brightly bringing light and warmth to our world and we are not consumed, we are renewed.
It was Wesley who said: "Every morning I set myself on fire and invite people to come and watch me burn!!!"
Thank You Spirit that you are all the might and power I need and then when I walk in Your ways I can burn and not be consumed.
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Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1Thessalonians5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
