Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was one of those nights…I had plans for sleep, but God had other Plans for me, so I spent the night in front of a warm fire and I let the Fire of God work through me instead. I’m not troubled for this world or the condition of the nation – I have complete confidence in the Living God and I know His Plans are Perfect no matter what…Plans that were put in motion before the foundations of the earth. Why would I spend even one-minute debating over His will? No, I’m not troubled by the condition of the world, but I can’t say the same about the condition of the hearts of all those people putting their time, attention, and trust in things of this world instead of the God of this world, and if they aren’t careful, they’ll get lost in the chaos. Now THAT troubles me. Does it trouble you too?

We don’t reach the world for Good just by praying no matter how much time we spend in the prayer closet or how often we find our way to church. We reach the world by who we are in Christ…by what we stand for IN HIM, not by what we stand for politically. We reach the world when we’re willing to share our personal Testimony of His Greatness and Mercy, not by spreading evil about the “evil” ones…the ones He died for too. We reach the world when it sees that we Worship only One and we Trust only One to lead. We reach the world when we can muster up Christ-like compassion for the lost ones that outshines our passion for our political preferences, and we care more about the condition of the soul than we do what side of the fence they’re on. We reach the world when we fearlessly BELIEVE and it shows…NOT in our own theories…NOT in some underground world…NOT in the opinion of “experts”…NOT in anything or anyone of this world…but the God of all Creation. “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to EVERYONE, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the HOPE that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” – this is what being a Servant of the Lord looks like…through the good, the bad, and the ugly…with nice people and “evil” people in HOPES that they might find Christ through us. Are you a Servant of the Lord?

The Bible says; for the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” God doesn’t tolerate us having any other gods before Him…period. “Gods” aren’t just magical, mythical beings…they aren’t just statues…they aren’t merely things we idolize…the “gods” Almighty God is referring to is anyone or anything that is higher on the priority list of life than He is. I don’t need to be there personally to see that millions of people are spending more time reading about what’s going on in America than they are the Source of Truth…and it shows. When that Consuming Fire really does consume you, it’s not possible not to hurt for the broken world. When that Consuming Fire really does consume you, it’s not possible not to care more about lost souls than we do about lost elections. When that Consuming Fire really does consume you, you want to shout the Good News from the mountaintops in hopes that everybody (including the “evil” ones) will have what you have and know what you know. When that Consuming Fire really does consume you, you have absolute confidence in your Future, and you find contentment and peace that surpasses all understanding through it all – because you know that “all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose” even those things that look so bad from where we sit.

I spent the night in front of a warm fire with my Consuming Fire and it will show in the way I work…the way I love…the way I Serve…the way I Share my testimony…the way I pray…the way hurt for the lost…the way I spread the Gospel…and the way I stay focused ONLY on Him. My Faith is unshakable because of my Consuming Fire.

How about you?