The Burning Bush-el

Saturday, ‎October ‎29, ‎2022

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Today's reading: JEREMIAH 18-19 2 TIMOTHY 3

The Burning Bush-el

Matthew 5:15 "14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

I did some brush work for a friend of mine and when done had some very large piles-big-big piles of brush all on the top of a high hill. When the weather was wet enough, he burned the piles. The flames could be seen for miles and miles. It upset some to the 'new folks' who had built on hilltops in the near vicinity. It could not be helped-it had to be done and was done at the optimal time. But the fire could not be hidden because it was a great pyre on a high point.

Our Lord Jesus said that a city on a hill cannot hide. This means to us that His influence in our lives- a very high influence cannot be contained-if it is real.

He also said that no lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. I have found humor in that-please don't shoot-but at my house, if you put a candle under a bushel basket-you will start a bigger fire because baskets will burn. Then I think of the scripture where Jesus said,

Luke 12:9 "But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.…"

Someone who puts His faith in Christ under a bushel is trying to hide it. That very apparent sin only leads to more sin-the candle under the bushel starts a fire of destruction and makes a huge mess in the sinner's life. Not funny anymore, is it. The humor is swallowed up in the smoke. The joy of the Lord has been lost in the smoke of all the sin.

All that from one small candle-decisions made in sin cause a mess.

But the obedient become like the fire on that hill. The power of God gets attention. People see the hand of God changing lives.

God spoke to Moses from a bush that held fire but was not, itself, consumed. I can only imagine that as Moses left that mountain, the fire from the bush had been transplanted into his heart.

I also imagine the small fire from the candle is God's pilot light in the heart of the believer. By our own decision and prayer, we ask God to empower us for this day...that this day may be entirely His..that from our hearts His fire for His namesake may be seen by many for their salvation in Christ.

Don't make the wrong decision. Don't burn the bushel basket. Ask God to take the fire from the bush and put it in your heart for His namesake.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me-have mercy on me for trying to hide Your truth in my life. Let me say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel".

Forgiving and empowering God,

In the name of our ascended and victorious Christ Jesus,

Amen