Remove your sneakers…

She writes words that move me deeply.  I read her post about a devastating fire and the void.  She responds to my comment with these words…

“I look at how fire consumes, and I wonder how anyone does — survive, that is.” 

That word consumes it makes its way into my journal.   My thoughts tumble onto the page as the pencil scratches the words: consuming fire – fire burns – touches everything – leaves its mark, its smell.

I begin to search God’s Word…”our God is a consuming fire.”  Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29

The next that catches my attention sings the word glory, one of the names God has given for 2010…

“To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”  Exodus 24:17

Several months ago pastor preached a sermon and used a quote that has stuck with me:

“A zealous man in religion is preeminently a man of one thing.  He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. … He burns for one thing, and that one thing is to please God and to advance Gods glory.  If he is consumed in the very burning, he does not care–he is content.  He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God has appointed him.”  JC Ryle^a

At a recent ladies retreat the speaker leaves these words, “We should have the smell of the desert on us.   Think of Moses in the desert, falling before the burning bush, consumed but not destroyed by the fire.”^b

Perhaps my life should look this way, consumed but not destroyed by the fire.  The grace of His presence, the fire of His glory only transforms – makes a new creation in the image of His Son.  

“Because I know, when He did what He did to make me whole, the farthest thing from His mind was putting me back in the same position as I was before.”

Friends, the new year 2011 I walk into cautiously.  Taking sandals off (or in my case sneakers) because He speaks the word consume.  It makes me hesitate – but how I desire to burn, be consumed for one thing – His glory.   The Father names 2011 Consume and bowing I yield. 

Father, all I need is you, consuming, heart burning for your glory.  Jesus your fragrance all over me.  Holy Spirit, only by your guiding, light the way for this trembling daughter. 

^{______________________________}

^a Quote from JC Ryle:  Practical religion : being plain papers on the daily duties, experience, dangers, and privileges of professing Christians (1883)

^b Beth Taylor