“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily
Reflections
Thursday,
22nd October 2020,
Twenty
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Eph
3:14-21;
Ps
32:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19;
Lk 12:
49-53
REFINER’S FIRE
Jesus
shocked his disciples when he declared that he would cast fire and cause
division rather than peace upon the earth. What kind of fire did Jesus have in
mind? Fire in biblical times was associated with God and with his action in the
world and in the lives of his people.
God
sometimes manifested his presence through fire, such as the burning bush which
was not consumed when God spoke to Moses (Ex 3:2). The image of fire was also
used to symbolize God’s glory (Ez 1:4, 13), his protective presence (2Kgs
6:17), his holiness (Deut 4:24), righteous judgment (Zech 13:9), and his wrath
against sin (Is 66:15-16). It is also used of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11 and Mt
2:3).
God’s
fire both purifies and cleanses, and it inspires a reverent fear of God and of
his word in us. Let us take one of the instances from the Bible regarding the
fire- the burning bush in Exodus. The bush seems to be blazing but the bush is
rather beautified far from being consumed. The natural quality of the fire is
to burn and consume. But here what is happening is the contrast. What does it
say about our God? Yes, our God is a fire, not a destroying fire but a
transforming fire. He burns us to beauty. Once you are burned by this fire you
will naturally stand out. If you are in your family of four and you are burned
to beauty you will naturally stand out. You stand out as a contrast either to
be hated or loved and imitated. It is possible that family and friends can
become our enemies, if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God
wants us to do. Does the love of Jesus Christ compel you to put God first in
all you do (2 Cor 5:14)?
Prayer:
Lord, may Your love consume me and transform my life. When my faith is
challenged give me courage and strength to stay strong in Your love. Jesus, I
trust in You. Amen
Copyright
©2013-2020 ©Honey of the Rock by ®JoyCat www.joy-cat.blogspot.com.
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