When we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and God to forgive our sins, a little flame starts deep inside of us. The Holy Spirit is there too. (Maybe the Holy Spirit even starts the fire, I don’t know.)
There are so many things I don’t understand about God’s wonder, but this I know: Our flame is ours alone, but built on, and kept burning by, the root of Jesse.
- As we read the Bible and understand Scripture, the flame grows.
- As we care for the needs of others with a pure heart, the flame grows.
- As we share the reason we are filled with joy, the flame grows.
- As we learn to see others as God does, looking past outward appearance, the flame grows.
- As we realize our brokenness, our sinfulness and our weakness and turn to Him for strength, the flame grows.
Our flame never goes out…for as long as we are alive on the earth.
Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. — Ephesians 3:17 TPT
From our vantage point as a believer, we are able to see others with a flame inside of them, and the bigger the flame, the easier it is to see. And we are drawn to others who hold larger flames inside of them.
And yet, other people’s flames do not add fuel to our own. The flames are not shared or ever joined into one, no matter how close two people are to each other. We have no ability to actually increase another’s flame or to blow another’s out, although we can influence what others think that makes their flame increase or diminish.
We have complete control of the size of the flame within us, but not “control” in the sense that we know it. In the heavenly realm, things as we know them to be on earth are flipped upside down. To control the strength of our flame (because as believers we are now able to access the divine nature), we increase the heat and brightness of our flame by surrendering our control to God. We are able to draw power from His word and increase the strength of the flame within our control by handing it all over to God.
Your responsibility is to tend to your flame alone, and to share God’s valuable gifts with others as they are drawn to your light and your warmth. Your identity and your flame will not waiver if you keep your eyes on him and live with your arms open wide to love, sharing your light with everyone. Don’t concern yourself with the size of the flames within others, whether large or small, because doing that merely weakens your own flame. Instead, keep your focus on the Lion of Judah, the King of all Kings, the Lord God Almighty, and the Son of Man himself.
(Originally published by Steph on Medium.com on May 19, 2023)