S) "13 Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out."
Leviticus 6:13 (NASB)
O) I was immediately struck by a parallel when I read this verse. So, reading through the last few chapters of Leviticus, God is instructing Moses and Aaron about how to conduct all of the different sacrifices on the alter. They are for myriad offenses, all about atonement. God is laying out the various requirements for His people and they are all well defined. Do blank, and when it's done, it's done and the guilty is forgiven. Every act of atonement, every process, is finite. And then there is this order. There is this infinite command. Get this fire started and keep it going. Do not let this fire die. Do not let the flames go out.
Now, it's pretty easy to see the practical reason for this. Anyone who's ever built a fire in their living room or while camping, they know that it's harder to start a fire than it is to keep a fire going. While I think God is all about practical applications, I don't think this command is as simple as that. I think it's about posture. It's about expectation and setting the tone.
In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist tells the people to, "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." And I think the ground work for that verse is set in this command to Moses and Aaron. You see, I think true repentance isn't a singular act, so much as it is a posture of the heart. And that posture is set before we sin. A repentant heart is one that is quick to admit fault, accept blame, and return to God. That is how we will bear fruit. That is keeping our fire alive. The priests were told to keep the fire going because God knew the people would sin continually. The priests needed to be ready to facilitate constant atonement, constant repentance, constant forgiveness from God.
Now, it's pretty easy to see the practical reason for this. Anyone who's ever built a fire in their living room or while camping, they know that it's harder to start a fire than it is to keep a fire going. While I think God is all about practical applications, I don't think this command is as simple as that. I think it's about posture. It's about expectation and setting the tone.
In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist tells the people to, "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." And I think the ground work for that verse is set in this command to Moses and Aaron. You see, I think true repentance isn't a singular act, so much as it is a posture of the heart. And that posture is set before we sin. A repentant heart is one that is quick to admit fault, accept blame, and return to God. That is how we will bear fruit. That is keeping our fire alive. The priests were told to keep the fire going because God knew the people would sin continually. The priests needed to be ready to facilitate constant atonement, constant repentance, constant forgiveness from God.
A) Our God is an all consuming fire and I need to let that fire, His fire, burn continually in my heart. I think it is constantly stoked by a humble heart that invites God to convict me regularly. This is the best way to keep the posture of a repentant heart. I need to let God purify my heart perpetually, and ask Him to burn away all impurities, and sacrifice everything to Him in true repentance, every time I am found guilty.
P) Father, I want Your fire in me to burn continually. Do not let it go out. Continue to work on my heart, burning up everything that You determine should not be there. I humbly submit myself to Your sovereignty. Let me be burned up. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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