Always Burning
God wants to continually shine His light in and through you.
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning."
Exodus 27:20-21
God gives the command to the priests to always have their lamps burning. Why do you think that is? God knows what we go through. He knows how we experience times of darkness and difficulty. What darkness are you dealing with that needs the light of the holy lamp to brighten?
God wants there always to be a light for people to find their way to Him. With a word He could have a lamp continually burn on its own, but He wants us to participate in bringing the light. He wants us to know part of our calling is to keep the lamps continually burning.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds...Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world"
Psalms 77:11-12, 14, 18-19
David's heart is on fire for the Lord. He praises continually because his focus is on the goodness and grace of God. He keeps the lamp heart burning with the fuel of gratitude for all God has done. He stands in awe of the power, presence, and purposes of God. How is the goodness of God producing gratitude to fuel the lamp of your soul?
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.”
Proverbs 26:20-21
Fire is a tool. It is a wonderous thing. It can bring warmth, light, and comfort as well as perfectly brown marshmallows. It can also burn, destroy, and kill. The question is how to you caretake the fire.
Wisdom says our words are like fire. We can use them to inspire and encourage lighting the fire of hope? Or we can gossip, judge, and destroy the people around us. How will you use the tool of your words today?
“Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God."
Jeremiah 11:3-5, 15-16
Truth saves that God saves us out of the furnace for a life of devotion to Him. The mighty works of His hands are meant to produce in us a heart that is on fire for Him. This fire burns so that we would respond to the grace we have been given with joyful obedience. Are you living out your call to follow the covenant out of obligation or opportunity?
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full...My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:3-4, 7, 9-11, 14, 16, 27-28
Jesus said that He is the light of the world. On our own we do not have the strength or the sustenance to keep the light burning. This is where we use the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to keep the fire burning to guide others to the one who will light up our life and theirs.
Jesus knows you have been burned. You have been burnt out. He knows you have experience fire that harms and darkness that dampens your light. That is why He says come to me. Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest. His light will warm your heart, bring healing to your soul, and lead you to the abundant life He has prepared for you. Then He gives you a new calling to burn brightly and be the light.
How do we do this? How do we keep the lamp burning? By drawing close to Him and allowing Him to refill our cups with the oil of joy, the oil of saving grace, the oil of our anointing that is the fuel of our spirits. From evening til morning, during the times when things are darkest, our call is to keep our lamps burning with hearts on fire for Christ.