From Ashes to Purpose: The Transformative Power of God's Fire
Job 30:19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
Is the glory of a fire found in the dust and ashes lying beneath its blaze? Is it not found in the intense beauty, brightness and heat of the flame itself? I know not of anyone who is not awe-stricken by the sheer beauty, intensity and power of fire! And yet, fire in all of its splendor must be fueled, else it does not exist! Dear reader, our God is a consuming fire (see Heb 12:29), and we are but the fuel He wishes to ignite! “Can He shine without us?” is not the question we should be asking, but rather, “Is it His desire to shine without us?” Romans 12:1 admonishes us to become a “living sacrifice” for Him! When we are consumed by Him, others will come and watch us burn! Jesus says “Let your light SO shine before men!” (see Mat 5:16).
Once we have been consumed by Him, we are reduced to dust and ashes, and have yielded our lives to a much greater purpose: that of exalting Jesus! It’s not US they will be so impressed with, but it’s HIM in us! John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn 3:30). Is there any value in dust and ashes? Can anything good be gotten of the mire?
Let’s consider the following: Out of dust God created mankind, breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul (see Gen 2:7)! Out of ashes comes beauty (see Isaiah 61:3)! And out of the mire come trophies of grace (see Ps 40:2)! You see, when we have been brought to the irreducible minimum in our lives, the only thing left is God, and that’s when true life just begins to happen! Do not think that your travail is the end of all good things! Through travail comes birth, and through birth comes newness of life, and a future, and a hope!
Be encouraged in the Lord today, and resolve in your spirit to wait patiently for your deliverance! See also Jer 20:9
~Pastor Gary Caudill
Is the glory of a fire found in the dust and ashes lying beneath its blaze? Is it not found in the intense beauty, brightness and heat of the flame itself? I know not of anyone who is not awe-stricken by the sheer beauty, intensity and power of fire! And yet, fire in all of its splendor must be fueled, else it does not exist! Dear reader, our God is a consuming fire (see Heb 12:29), and we are but the fuel He wishes to ignite! “Can He shine without us?” is not the question we should be asking, but rather, “Is it His desire to shine without us?” Romans 12:1 admonishes us to become a “living sacrifice” for Him! When we are consumed by Him, others will come and watch us burn! Jesus says “Let your light SO shine before men!” (see Mat 5:16).
Once we have been consumed by Him, we are reduced to dust and ashes, and have yielded our lives to a much greater purpose: that of exalting Jesus! It’s not US they will be so impressed with, but it’s HIM in us! John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn 3:30). Is there any value in dust and ashes? Can anything good be gotten of the mire?
Let’s consider the following: Out of dust God created mankind, breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul (see Gen 2:7)! Out of ashes comes beauty (see Isaiah 61:3)! And out of the mire come trophies of grace (see Ps 40:2)! You see, when we have been brought to the irreducible minimum in our lives, the only thing left is God, and that’s when true life just begins to happen! Do not think that your travail is the end of all good things! Through travail comes birth, and through birth comes newness of life, and a future, and a hope!
Be encouraged in the Lord today, and resolve in your spirit to wait patiently for your deliverance! See also Jer 20:9
~Pastor Gary Caudill