“Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out” (Leviticus 6:13 ESV).
Aaron and his sons were commanded to always keep the fire burning on the altar in the Tabernacle. This fire was the divinely appointed symbol of their uninterrupted worship of Yahweh. As such, they were to never let the fire of their worship of Yahweh be suspended. Keeping a perpetual fire showed their constant love and worship of God.
When Timothy expressed his discouragement and fear to Paul, he was told to stir up the fire of his calling. Paul wrote, “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you” (2 Tim. 1:6). In other words, he told him it was his responsibility to maintain the fire of his passion for ministry.
Paul encouraged the believers in Rome to keep their spiritual fire burning for God. He wrote, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Notice his use of the words “zeal” and “fervent.” He called on them to keep a burning (fervent) enthusiasm (zeal) for serving and worshiping the Lord.
When David was down, he “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Sam. 30:6). So can we. With the Spirit’s help, we can keep the flames of our love and worship of God by giving daily attention to them.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we often believe that our passion is a fickle thing beyond our control, but You teach us to keep the fires burning. Lord, when we are discouraged, remind us that You are the source of our love, power and wisdom. Help us to fan the flames of our calling and passion for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.