"In olden days, fire was not instantly available by striking a match or turning a knob. Instead, each village maintained a constant fire that burned in the central plaza. Those whose home fires had died carried a burning brand very carefully from the central fire back to their fireplaces or stoves to rekindle the flame. Each village hired a man to keep the fire burning at all times, and if he let the fire go out, the mistake could cost him his life.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:6 that when we first become Christians we are given a consuming, passionate, burning love for our Father, which He places within us. Do you remember when the thought of Him provoked an emotional, passionate, fervent response in your heart? Do you remember how you plunged into service, thrilled to think you could do something for this One you loved, this Savior Who had done so much for you? But as time passed, did your busyness become weariness? And did the fire in your heart flicker and die down, even as you hurried to serve God in a multitude of exhausting ways?
At times such as these we must urgently return to the Father, earnestly asking for the Wind of His Spirit to revive the embers of His gift in our hearts. Jesus taught us that our love for Him is more important than all of our service to Him. He reminded us that the first and greatest commandment was this: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."Is the fire of your passionate love for Jesus and His Word dying out as you smother yourself in busyness? In neglectfulness? In prayerlessness? "
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