By Pastor Mark Moreno

Love Is a Burning Thing

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

In many parts of the world, there are so-called “controlled burns” where professionals will intentionally burn land to control it so that a wildfire doesn’t break out at a later date. It seems a little counter intuitive, but sometimes the safest protection from a fire IS fire.

In Zechariah 2:1-5 we read,

“And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
English Standard Version

In this text, God promises to be a wall of fire, a wall that actually protects! It is a literal light of His presence which he intents to be a blessing for His people. It is a striking image that invites reflection.

The bible is filled with ”fiery moments”: The burning bush (Exodus 3), The Firey Furnace (Daniel 3) and The Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost (Acts 2) to name a few. It is clear that fire can be destructive, but many times in scripture, it is a symbol of holiness. In each of those passages, God is doing spectacular work for His people.

There are even passages that refer to a “refiner’s fire” where impurities are burned off so that the finished product is immaculate. That’s another striking image, one where God hones and completes the work He has begun in us.

God may not be protecting you today with a wall of fire, but make no mistake: He is protecting you. He does it often in everyday ways, so normal that you wouldn’t even notice. He protects you through police officers, fire fighters, military personnel , emergency response workers, government officials, doctors, pastors, family & friends and the like.

By making sure you are connected to these people, you can know that God is present and protecting you. Scripture even speaks about how His holy angels watch over you! How comforting it is to know that you have a God that neither slumbers nor sleeps in His care and provision for you!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado