Keep it Burning

The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. ~ Leviticus 6:12

There are two types of fire that burn. One is the fire that burns within you, motivating, encouraging, and guiding you. The other is the fire that burns on the outside, consuming everything in its destructive path.

The first fire is the presence of God, the Holy Spirit. The presence of God is found upon the altar, because that is where the sacrifice is made, and the altar is found inside the temple. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that we are God's temple, our bodies house the Holy Spirit, and that it why we must take care of it and keep it holy and pure.

The second fire is the destroyer, or as modern day would call it, "burnout". We say that we are burned out out because we are overworked and under payed. But actually, when we are burned out, it's because we are overstressed and under rested. God said that six days you work and one day you rest, just as He exemplified for us, (see Exodus 34:21). He said and did that so that we wouldn't experience the emotional and physical anguish of burnout. He wanted us to continue to be motivated by the fire of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly speaking to us, and guiding us. But, if we are too tired and overwhelmed, we will never hear His voice.

In both Leviticus 6:12 and 13, God instructed the priests to not let the fire go out, but to keep it burning continuously. What things in your life need to change, or do you need to step away from, so that you can follow the fire that leads instead of being destroyed by the fire that consumes?

Do not put out the Spirit's fire. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19