“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!“
Luke 12:49 ESV
Have you ever thought of what legacy you might leave behind once you are gone? What impact will you have made on your family, community, and society? Do you want to create a huge wave in the ‘sea’ of life or just a minute ripple that no one will ever notice? Is your life one huge blast for everyone to witness or just a small sputter of light no one will see
One thing I’ve learned in life is that radical people – either for good or bad – makes a lasting effect on the world they leave behind. Billy Graham, Francis of Assisi, Theresa of Calcutta, and Therese of Lisieux – they made a lasting impact, even up to now. How about you – can you put your name beside them, as one who was on fire for God while they were alive? Can you dare try, in your own little way, to set your life on fire for God? Jesus came to set your life on fire for Him!
So How Do You Grow in Becoming on Fire for God?
- Being on fire for God starts with your conversion. Before you can change the world, you need to change yourself first. Make sure God is your one true passion, joy, and treasure. Surrender your inmost longings and plans to Him. Offer your weaknesses, sins, and flaws to God. Get rid of habits of sin in your life.
- Appreciate just how blessed you are. You have a roof over your head, clothes to wear, and food to eat. One way you can think about the purpose of living is to show gratitude to God for all His blessings to you.
- Let love for God and others be the goal and basis for your living. Let love be your motive in all your relationships and let love be your afterthought to all dealings in life. Being loving is being on fire for God.
- Act, think, and live like Jesus. In different situations in life especially the hard ones, think of how would Jesus behave and respond. We are called to follow and imitate Jesus, even if it is against our old nature.
- Lukewarmness is not acceptable in God’s eyes! You need to decide to either be hot or cold for God. Lukewarm people never made any lasting impact on their lives and others. See Revelations 3:15-16.
- A Christian on fire would also attempt to share Jesus with others by his witness and being vocal about his faith. You may be the only living gospel that others will ‘read’ and meet in their lifetime. So live your life well, be a salt of the earth and the light of the world, in all humility, meekness, patience, and love.
- Live an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. Saints in the past grew in holiness by conquering their selfishness, learning to forbear in love, and being patient with the people. They had serious issues that challenged their holiness – and by overcoming those ‘small’ battles, they obtained eternal life.
- Live a radical life for God. What the world desperately needs now are people who are on fire for God. Aim to be either a missionary, a saint or a martyr – or if you want to be truly ambitious, aim to be all! Aim to be a spark that can start a blazing fire for God to all the people you meet. You have only one short life to live – use it for the glory of God!
Other Scripture passages:
- And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” [Luke 10:27 ESV]
- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9 ESV]
- I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. [Revelation 3:15-16 ESV]
- Other references: 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:7; and Romans 12:11.
For personal reflection or group sharing
If you were to look at your life from the outside, do you see any visible signs of your life being on fire for God? Or will you see more signs of lukewarmness in your life rather than being on fire? What do you need to do change so that you can be more on fire for God?
© 2023 Tom Caballes.
Top image credit: Photo of burning candles in the Holy Sepulcher Church in Jerusalem, from Bigstock.com, © by kirill4mula, stock photo ID: 198156457. Used with permission.
Tom Caballes is a National Coordinator of the Lamb of God, a community of the Sword of the Spirit with seven branches located throughout New Zealand. Tom and his wife Mhel and their two daughters [with his son-in-law and grand-daughter] live in Wellington, New Zealand.