1 Thessalonians 5
THE SPIRIT’S FIRE

“Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thessalonians 5 v 19 ISV).

In everything, in our personal lives, our churches, workplaces and families, there are improvements to be made. No one sees the need for change better than young people. They are the ones with the enthusiasm, time, energy and motivation to be able to make or facilitate some of those changes.

Those of us who have been around a little longer can also see the need for change, but the drive to do it, the experiences we have had, the times we have tried (and failed) to make changes before, the busyness of our lives, and the energy we often lack, hold us back from even attempting to do what should be done.

The problem is when someone young or enthusiastic comes along with their new ideas, or even ideas that have previously been tried (and failed), we only see the problems. As a consequence we pour cold water on the fire so that it doesn’t get too hot for us.

Being around people who have the Spirit’s fire can make us feel threatened. But if it is a spirit that God has put there, woe to us if we try to put it out. Instead of feeling threatened, let’s allow that person to reignite our fire so that the Spirit’s fire can burn in us both.

May our lights shine brightly for our God this week.

With love in our Lord
Robert