It is about fire

NORSK
In the tradition of The Salvation Army this image is not central just because it is our “motto”, but because “Blood and fire” represent important theological truths.

The connection between God’s presence and fire is evident in many of the narratives of the Old Testament. God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush (1). When Moses received the directions for the activities in the Tabernacle, it was important that a constant fire should burn on the altar of the burnt-offering (2) – a symbol of God’s presence and the purifying of the sacrifice. Isaiah experienced to be purified when glowing coal from the altar touched his lips (3). Elijah – the prophet of fire – experienced how the consuming fire swallowed not only the sacrifice, but the whole altar on Mount Carmel (4), while it was a non-consuming chariot of fire that took him to heaven (5).

John the Baptist made a connection between the fire and the Holy Spirit when he presented and prophesied about Jesus:

…after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit
to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matt 3:11

… and in the continuation of what we have already read from the Day of Pentecost:

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:3-4

In our everyday language, we may say that a person has “a burning passion” for something. The fire of the Holy Spirit has just such an effect on those who receive him. The disciples who had locked the doors in fear for the Jews, would not even stop preaching when threatened, tortured and persecuted. Peter declared: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard" (7). They burned to share the gospel. It must have been how Jeremiah felt when he confessed:

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.
Jer 20:19

Here we also see the clear connection between fire and language. No-one will manage keep the fire burning over time just with human enthusiasm. It is only the Holy Spirit that can keep me going.

‘Manna’ for today:

The fire keeps me burning.

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(1) Exod 3:2
(2) Lev 6:8-13
(3) Jes 6:6-7
(4) 1 King 18:38
(5) 2 King 2
(6) John 20:19
(7) Apg 4:20
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