What Consumes You?—A Holy Week Reflection
“For our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
There are many things in this life that may consume us—some seemingly better than others. Most would acknowledge that to be consumed by something like greed or bitterness is not desirable. Perhaps we have a more favorable view of being consumed by a passion for justice or a desire for knowledge. But ultimately, anything that consumes us, apart from divine Love, has no place in eternity and must be put to death.
Scottish author, poet, and pastor, George MacDonald, wrote:
There is nothing eternal but that which loves and can be loved, and love is ever climbing towards the consummation when such shall be the universe, imperishable, divine. Therefore all that is not beautiful in the beloved, all that comes between and is not of love's kind, must be destroyed. Consuming Fire
In God’s Kingdom, only love has value because that which is not love has no place in him. If we are to find our home in him, then we cannot come with things that are not love. I’ve come to believe that all of our earthly life is a journey toward that discovery, which is the ultimate revelation of truth.
As we walk through Holy Week, we must ponder this burning Love who gave us his Son, Love incarnate, to live amongst us. He held nothing back, revealing to us the divine path of surrender.
Jesus lived and died to show us what Love looks like—the perfect representation of his Father. In withholding nothing, God gained everything. Jesus’ act of sacrificial love won for himself his beloved bride—the Body of Christ, his Father’s own children.
And so it is with us. When we withhold nothing from the consuming fire of God’s love, we gain everything—not just eternal life, but the fullness of God’s love. This process begins now, if we will allow it.
You see, God will never force himself upon us. That is the nature of Love. He must have our “Yes,” for he is patient and kind. We must willingly surrender to the process of transformation. There is no other way.
Pause for a moment to consider this burning Love that waits for you, even now ready to consume the things that keep you from him. To him, you are worth everything.
Will you surrender yourself to him? Will you yield yourself to the flames of Love?
‘Sometimes healing comes by waving the white flag of surrender when everyone else is telling you to stay in the fight.’
What would happen if the Body of Christ truly lived in love?
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