Smooring the Fire

Scripture: I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! Luke 12:49

Imagine you are in the 1600’s in old Ireland. A Celtic Christian woman tends the fire before she goes to bed. She is responsible to keep the fires burning. In a damp climate tending the fire is a constant chore. She gathers up the embers of the fire and divides the embers into three separate piles- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She makes sure the fire is secure for tomorrow is a very special day.

As she rises the next morning, she uses a little dry peat to get the fire going and adds more fuel to meet the needs of the family. This day is special because her daughter is getting married and the best gift that she can give her is being prepared right now. She takes the glowing embers and puts them into a metal container and through the fog of the damp landscape she smoors the fire of her ancestral fire. Like generations before her this mother smoors the fire to her daughter, these precious heirlooms are the best gift she could give.

The Christian faith is always in need of Smooring. The fire needs to be kindled and rekindled if it is to be there for the next generation. An annual revival is an attempt to fan the flames of our Christian heritage. Music can also be a tool that is used to stir the embers in our lives.

In Ohio I had some limbs that need disposal and so I built a small fire in the backyard and fed the limbs with the help of my children. Neighbors started coming out of their houses to see what was happening and they gathered around the sweet fire. Can you smell the smoke from a campfire, grandmother’s old stove, a Boy Scout campout, etc?

Jesus came to be a holy flamethrower. He attempted to create a spiritual fire in his disciples that would be the burning, exciting, dynamic presence of God in people.

When your heart is on fire for someone; that means you are passionate about that person. Jesus came to give us that kind of burning, passionate, love relationship with the God of the Universe. If God is like fire, there are several things He wants to do in your life that can be compared to fire. Jesus is wanting us to see the supernatural, burning, exciting presence of God. John the Baptist said in Luke 3:16
"I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

This Holy Spirit living in you is like the fire of God that generates the power you need to live the Christian life. Without this power how would you face the challenges of life? We need that Spirit to share our faith in God. We need that Spirit to forgive those who hurt us. We need that Spirit to have wisdom to make wise decisions. We need that Spirit to love the unlovely.

Unlike the ancient Celts, we are often soul-negligent, asking for mercy without taking the time to tender the spark of our soul that yearns for the fire of God. We may get so caught up in church matters that we neglect the care of our own hearts. The fire of the well-tended Christian soul may waver in times of trial but is smoored by God so it cannot be extinguished.

The history of Christianity can, of course, be traced through a series of times when the fire of Christianity has been rekindled from smoored coals. Tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost rekindled the hearts and minds of Christ’s apostles and disciples. That rekindled fire blazed across the Roman Empire. Celtic Christianity rekindled light in Europe at the end of the Dark Ages. Luther’s Reformation set all of Europe on fire with holy, renewed faith. Wesley preached to forgotten miners outdoors and revival broke out. Has the fire gone out in your heart?

God’s fire is a purifying, cleansing flame. Sometimes the fire of God comes into our lives and removes those impurities we don’t even know are there. If you’ve ever “been through the fire” you know it is not a pleasant experience. It could be that you are going through a refining experience right now. It’s hot and uncomfortable. It’s scary and you wonder if the fire will ever finish. God is like a refiner’s fire–but remember He loves you and He knows just how much you need to cleanse you of your impurities.

Ray Hartman
Middle TN

Prayer: Lord, may we let the fire of your Spirit burn up all the impurities in our lives. Help us to accept the smooring fire of the Holy Spirit who will help us with our personal challenges. Help us to be obedient, faithful adopted children in your kingdom. Amen

Prayer Tip: Always be willing to ask God to ignite the fir of His Spirit within you. He is able!

5-7-07