Fervent: having or displaying a passionate intensity for something or someone
Fire: to give or fill with passion or enthusiasm
A passionate intensity. Sounds pretty deep, right? I'm sure everyone has a passion for at least a handful of interests, hobbies, and/or people. It could be a social media, a sport, a significant other, a musical instrument, a phone, a team, or any materialistic object that you find of high value and worth. These passions are not wrong by themselves. However, you may need to ask yourself if they are interfering with your relationship with Jesus.
If these insignificant passions are becoming or have been higher on your list of priorities than your daily walk with God, then you might need to reconsider and better balance what or who you give most of your time to.
Matthew 6:19: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Where will these materialistic items get us? That 50-inch flat-screen, brand new car, or luxurious and spacious house is not important in God's eyes. The things we had on earth will not matter to anyone after we die. More importantly, they will not matter to God. What will matter? "But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:20). Treasure in Heaven can never be stolen, burned down, or taken by the bank. That is just one of the many reasons that it is so much more valuable than any other treasure we could obtain here on earth.
What are you on fire for? What do you spend most of your time, energy, and money on? Have you spent as much time submerged in God's Word as you have engrossed in Twitter or Instagram? Have you talked to God more than you have your best-friend? These are questions we need to ask ourselves to keep accountable and in-check. If you answered no, then you might need to take a step-back and take inventory of your time.
More importantly, I ask the question: What should we be on fire for? Luke 24:32: "And they said one to another, 'Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?'" Have you ever listened to an inspiring speaker or attended a Christian conference where you left feeling rejuvenated, pure, and ready to live an on-fire life for God? However, as the days went by, you felt as if nothing really changed and you were the same person you were before. If so, I can honestly relate. We can talk about getting our lives right and adjusting our priorities all day long, but if we do not make a significant effort, nothing will change. Nothing. God is more important than anything, so why do we not treat Him like it sometimes? Your friends and family will all fail you at one point, but God never will.
We are called to grow more mature and closer in our relationship with God each passing day. How can we do that if He is on the bottom of our huge stack of concerns? Or just a check mark to achieve each day, purely to make ourselves feel and look better? I know that life is busy. School, church, practices, lessons, performances, trips, family gatherings, more school. But if we really desire to grow closer to the LORD, we will contain an unquenchable thirst that can only be fulfilled by time spent with Him. Why, you ask? "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." God drawing nearer to you is one of the best things that can ever happen to you, hands-down. Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
In addition to growing closer to God, we are called to strive to exhibit the likeliness of Jesus. Would your acquaintances or friends know that you are a Christian just by the way you talk or act? Would they say you act different than you used to or different than their other friends? That's what they should say if you are truly on fire for God. Colossians 2: 6, 7: "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."
Rev 3: 15-18a: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich." These words in red lettering are important and attention-worthy. He is saying that he would rather us be completely cold than be half-there. It's all in or all out. It is so undesirable to Him for one to be "stuck in the middle," that He says he will spit them out. Do you watch television shows, listen to music, or have friends that please God? Don't be lukewarm. Be all the way in.
Follow your heart. Follow your instincts. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, do whatever you want. Common, wordly quotes that give the right-of-way for our emotions and feelings to affect or even dictate our actions. Well, in my opinion, DON'T FOLLOW YOUR HEART. Don't follow your instincts or whatever pops into your head. Do whatever would make God happy. Ask yourself what your fellow Christians would think if you pursued what you are contemplating. Most importantly, what does God think? As humans, we have been born with sinful natures. Wonderful, I know. On the contrary, we should overcome them by not spending our time chasing worldly desires with reckless abandon. Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
What should we be chasing after? Christ, first and foremost. Some wish that they had earlier in life and regret many past mistakes that they made. Don't think that you have to wait until you're older, wiser, more experienced, or smarter to start living for the LORD. You can start today. Proverbs 1:5: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance."
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M
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P.S. Speaking of fire, I really like this song. http://www.metrolyrics.com/set-a-fire-lyrics-jesus-culture-with-martin-smith.html