“For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29
It’s summer in Florida! Which means the heat and humidity are out early and in full force. Going ‘out there’ for ANY length of time means discomfort and plenty of sweating. WILLFULLY going ‘out there’ seems sheer madness. But that is just what a few of us ‘Jesus guys’ were planning to do!
Almost a year and a half ago we felt compelled by God to stand on a very busy corner, near our church, and hold up Gospel signs. Nothing advertising our church or anything else. Just people proclaiming Jesus’ love to our world, along with an invitation to a new life in Him! As the sweat started to drip in my eyes, I couldn’t help but look heavenward… and snicker!
Jesus told His Church to go into the world and spread the Gospel and make disciples. He DIDN’T say it would be fun or easy! There is no doubt that we are taking that command literally! As we stand in the hot sun and talk among ourselves, we grow as His disciples… together. We also learn that God’s calling has a price! Getting mad at Him only gets me more attention and heat FROM Him
I watched yesterday as one of our guys shifted to lean against a concrete light pole, the shade and support it lent seemed to be what he needed. He hadn’t been feeling very well lately and probably should have stayed home. But there he was! I haven’t felt very well myself lately, but like him, I did not entertain the thought of canceling out on The Master of the Universe! I prayed for both of us but noticed the sun did not relent! Thus the reason for my snicker!
God is a consuming fire! Like fire, He wants to consume ALL of me. That IS His end goal and He will NOT relent. He wants my life, my wife, my kids, my job, my attitude, my heart and my will… AND MORE! He does not negotiate, neither does He relent. He either gets ALL of me, or He will keep pushing every little button of my life until that one falls to His Lordship as well. Blood, sweat and tears are simply expected as payment.
God’s price may seem high! To selfish people wanting their own way, like me sometimes, it is common to disregard Him or even pretend I didn’t hear His directive. Sweat then becomes the cause for a pity party instead of the Price. Having played on His team for so long, I have found that it is easier just to wipe my brow and snicker at that ol’ sun. Because I’ve learned, HIS reward is out of this world!
What is God ‘sweating out’ of YOU?
