Fireside


"The Lord said to Moses: 'Give Aaron and his sons this command: These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. ... The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously, it must not go out." Leviticus 6:8-13    "Do not put out the Spirit's fire." I Thessalonians 5:19

There's no way for me to calculate the number of campfires I've sat around. Even as a child, my parents had us at camp sharing wonderful fireside moments together. From then to today these fireside moments are filled with singing, praying, storytelling, laughter, tears and moments with God so all encompassing that time has no meaning. What is the common denominator to all of these thousands of moments? The fire. By light and by warmth it draws us into deep connection with God and each other. The only thing needed is to keep adding wood so it doesn't go out.

As God was establishing the nation of Israel with him at the center, he emphatically instructed the priests to never let the fire on the altar to go out. Keep it burning. The altar was the place of worship. It was the place of cleansing and forgiveness. The people would come to the altar with their sacrifices and leave knowing they were right with God. It reminded the people they belonged to God, that he was present with them and his heart was for them. "The fire," God told Moses, "must not go out."

Jesus promised the Apostles in Acts 1 that they would receive power to be his witnesses throughout the world. This power would be theirs when the Holy Spirit would come upon them. In Acts 2, during the annual harvest celebration, he comes. Like tongues of fire upon them, he comes. At the end of that day, 3000 people from nations near and far put their trust in Jesus for salvation. Paul writing later told the church in Thessalonica to not put out the Spirit's fire. Today we choose. Will we add fuel to the fire or will we extinguish it?   

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