Written by His Grace,
Kevin K. O’Connor
Main thought: to explore
the urgent need we all have to fan the flames of our relationship with Christ
Fan the Flames!
2 Timothy 1 6For
this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.
Do you ever wonder why
people do certain things, like joining the Army? Are they joining for the
thrill of being called a soldier or are they joining because of their heart’s
desire to be a soldier. Are they enlisting to please others or are they
enlisting to be true to themselves?
It seems that there are
always a bountiful supply of people who are doing a lot of things just for the
appearance of doing so, or to appear to be something that they are not to
please others. Kind of like many who go to church because of the appearance of
doing so or because it will impress someone that they are interested in.
I don’t know about you but
if I felt the call to fight for my country and our freedoms, I don’t want to
fight along somebody who had only joined for the appearance of doing so or to
please someone else. Our walk with Christ is kind of like that as well. Our
walk with Christ is not meant to be a popularity thing or a display to others
or because others are doing it. It is meant to be a One on One relationship
between the One from whom all things exist and to whom all things will
return;
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling, (Whole Chapter: In
context: )
And yet, although it is to
be a very personal and intimate relationship with Him, we need to learn how to
be there for those around us who are also seeking to develop that walk of
intimacy with Him;
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let
us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
So, just like in Philippians 2:12 where the task of growing within our walk is
each person’s sole responsibility, so it is with laying our life down fighting for
our country. Each person must decide, and yet although living for Christ is our
sole responsibility, it has a tremendous impact on those around us like
fighting in the Army which is why our Lord also gives us His Word in Hebrews
10:25.
Heaven is especially made
for people who enjoy being loved and giving love. While it will be a place of
incredible beauty and wonder filled with many indescribable beings of God’s
beauty and grace, it will also be a place of fulfilling intimacy. Have you ever
felt like you were a person lost in the sea of humanity? Well, that won’t
happen in Glory. There will always be a very passionate and intimate
relationship with each person and the One Who is our life;
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a
white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
God is to be the Fire of
our hearts. But, in order for fire to be powerful and effective, it must be
stirred up so that the oxygen of the Holy Spirit can feed the flames of passion
for Christ. Passion just doesn’t happen; it’s made to happen. You didn’t want
to marry your spouse from a few phone calls with him or her, but that
relationship was nurtured and fed and out of that, passion grew. In the same way,
our Lord tells us in 2 Timothy 1 6For this reason I remind you to
fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my
hands. Many people have allowed their spiritual life to become totally
ineffective because they thought that the calling of God was to become a
“Christian” so that their eternal welfare would be secured. But, just like
joining the Army is more than signing on the dotted line and taking an oath, it
involves a commitment from the heart not just from the mouth. A commitment from
the heart is seen in one who truly gives honor to the word “soldier”. Our God
is looking for such to serve Him.
So then, how do we fan the
flames of passion for Christ? By realizing that He is in the details of all we
say and do. We tend to focus on those things that we think are grand and
glorious in serving Him, and He is waiting on us to love our enemies as
ourselves. We might be focusing on becoming teachers of God’s Word and He’s
waiting on us to become livers of His Word, like giving a glass of cold water
in His Name, or helping clothe those without clothes, or feeding the hungry or
visiting those in prison. Christianity was meant to be so much more than an
organization, it was meant to be a family of relationships one with another and
most importantly with Christ. And, just as our relationship with our spouse
needs to receive time and attention, so does our relationship with Christ. Have
you seen a very happy couple lately? More than likely that couple is working at
their relationship and their intimacy and realize that it just doesn’t happen
but is made to happen by their efforts.
How we shortchange
ourselves in our walk with Christ when we think that by working at our growth
in Christ, we are actually earning our salvation. It seems like anytime we try
to do anything of value and worth for eternity, satan
is always there trying to get us off course. Of course we can’t earn our
salvation, but we can sure grow and mature our relationship with Christ once
coming into the saving Faith that He brings us into! Balance is such an
important truth in our walk with Christ. To balance within our hearts, the need
to grow our relationship but at the same time to realize that all we do, say,
or think is not of our own abilities or talents but are of Him so that when we
stand before Him clothed in His Righteousness and filled with many rewards that
He is the One from Whom all of the Glory, Honor and Praise is due.
Satan is so quick to
whisper in our ears when we decide to dust ourselves off and begin to apply ourselves
in our walk with Christ that we’re trying to earn our salvation, garbage! The
Great Over Comer, Christ Himself, won our salvation!
Now it’s time we put his lies and whispers to rest and learn how to spend time
with Christ in prayer, how to weep with those that weep, how to return a
blessing to those who would curse us, how to go the extra mile when asked to go
only one. And, let’s truly listen to God’s Word that states in
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (Whole
Chapter: In
context: )
Sowing and reaping is a spiritual truth that satan
would have us all blind to. If each one who heard the Savior’s call to His Love
would hear this truth, the gates of hell would not prevail against the church;
And I tell you that you are Peter,[ 16:18 Peter means rock.] and on this rock I
will build my church, and the gates of Hades[ 16:18 Or hell] will not overcome
it.[ 16:18 Or not prove stronger than it] (Whole Chapter: In
context: )
Behold, the Bride Groom
returns soon with rewards for His Bride. Let’s be about the Master’s business, Let’s ever learn how to Love Him more passionately each day
than the day before. The greater our Love for Him, the greater the Praise,
Glory, and Honor He will receive.
Heavenly Father, teach us
how to grow our relationship with your Son, teach us how to listen at His feet,
and then to rise and press ever nearer to His Heart. In Jesus Glorious Name,
Amen.
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