Have you ever heard the saying, "If you play with fire, you are going to get burned?" Today's word to describe God is "Fire."

 

Devotion

 

Boy am I glad that Jesus didn't return between 1992 and 2001! During those years, I was the epitome of a "carnal Christian." Although I went to church on Sundays, I had no personal relationship with God during the week. As far as my faith was concerned, I was just "playing."

 

Now I realize if things hadn't changed, I might have been one of those of whom Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23)!'

 

What a chilling thought! This makes me realize that all of those years I was playing with God, all I was doing was deceiving myself.

 

A couple of years after my real conversion experience in 2001, I was driving home one night from church when I had a vision of the cross of Christ being burned into my heart. An inner fire was kindled and I began to understand the prophet Jeremiah's words in Jeremiah 20:9:

 

"Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not."

 

I thank God that He put a fire in me for His Word. Recently, a reader wrote me to ask if I could shorten my devotionals. I smiled because sometimes I wish I could. However, I have to write what the Spirit tells me and be faithful to do it. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ..."

 

Are you walking in the call that God has placed on your life? Or are you half stepping? The church is weaker when God's people don't operate in their Spiritual gifts or do it half-heartedly.

 

God warns the Lukewarm church in Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

 

Today, make a decision to get on fire for the Lord. Practice His God's presence, study His word, and apply it daily.

 

Let's pray that He kindle a Holy Ghost fire in His church that is never quenched!

 

Meditation Scripture

 

·         Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

Be blessed in Health, Healing, and Wholeness,

 

Kimberly Taylor
Take Back Your Temple
www.takebackyourtemple.com

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