"And the Fire Fell" June 25 Readings: 2 Chronicles 7-8, Acts 2:1–41, Psalm 77:12–20, Proverbs 16:1

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Today's Readings - 2 Chronicles 7-8, Acts 2:1–41, Psalm 77:12–20, Proverbs 16:1


Devotional - And the Fire Fell


What an odd coincidence (if you believe in that sort of thing) in today's readings. In 2 Chronicles, we have the story of Solomon building a temple for the glory of God. When he finished building it all exactly as God commanded after he prayed diligently for the power and presence of God to come on the people of God, we read this in verses 1-3.
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord. 3 All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the Lord:

For he is good, for his faithful love endures forever.
The fire fell and the glory of God came down on the Temple of the Living God. God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed him and served his purposes. 

Then we read Acts 2, where on the day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered in an upper room praying and waiting for the Spirit Jesus had promised to them. Verses 1-4 describe what happened. 
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
The fire fell, this time in the form of a tongue, and the glory of God (the Spirit of God) came down on the Temple of the Living God (we are the Temple of God now, are we not?). God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed his Great Commission and served his purpose to go into all the World. 

Oh, that God would write episode 3 on our hearts today! May the fire would fall on us, purifying us and kindling our zeal for him and his kingdom. May the glory of God that dwells within us, the Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on us. May we be renewed by the Spirit, filled for the work that God has for us, empowered to be conformed to the image of Christ, enlightened and purified by the Word, and encouraged and strengthened in all that we face in this world. As the fire fell on Solomon's temple and on the church of Jesus Christ, may it fall on us. As the glory of the Lord filled the temple and the Spirit of the Lord filled the people, may we be so full of Christ's Spirit that people see Jesus in us!

Father, may the fire of your Spirit fall on us anew today. Break us, melt us, mold us, fill us! Use us for your kingdom and the glory of your name. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Is the fire of God's Spirit evident in your life?
We have the Spirit, but need to seek God, submit to him fully, and walk in obedience, that we may walk daily in the fullness of the Spirit.
"Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me."



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