Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
It is always a thrill for me to build a fire. I guess it started when I was in my teens and a boy scout. One summer we had a week-long camp and our scoutmaster taught us the fundamentals of building and maintaining a good fire. It was a thrill for us to use our shoe laces, a bow and drill, and in a few minutes have a flame erupt from our dry shavings. He taught us to always have dry wood near at hand so we would be able to keep the fire burning.
Recently I have thought about these lessons as I have built fires in our small wood stove. When I first ignite the fire there is plenty of paper and kindling to allow the flames to quickly flame into light. It is not enough to produce a flame. I have to keep the fire growing by placing larger and larger wood in the flames.
One day last week as I was watching the growing fire, I placed a larger piece of wood. It was too much and too soon for the fire to continue burning. I found it necessary to pay close attention to place smaller kindling back in the flames until they would get the larger pieces engulfed.
In the spiritual realm we sometimes fail to learn the lessons from the fire box. We must insure that we light the fire in new believers. Then we need to provide just the right amount of kindling to get their flame burning bright. As we prayerfully add more and more solid wood we need to watch for the moment when they are burning on their own and producing fire in those around them. GET BURNING!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil