The Fire Must Be Kept Burning
Passage to be read: Leviticus 06: 08 -13
"But the fire must be kept burning on the alter,
it must not be allowed to go out."
(Leviticus 06: 09)
Christ Jesus set an example before us. He came to this world so that He would show us the life of example, die on the cross and rise from the dead. His death on the cross is not only a message of sacrifice but also a call for every believer of Christ Jesus. His sacrificial life of example calls all His believers to do the same. But as we give ourselves to the service of God, He is also calling us for a life that will continue to be burning with passion, faith and calling, together with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
The passage we have read above, Leviticus 06: 08 -13, describes the Whole Burnt Offerings, and the smallest details of how the offering was to be made. This offering of the Old Testament time shows that the sacrificial animal was to be laid on the altar as the offering and it was to be burnt. And that is how, the shedding of blood by a sacrifice would remove the sins from the guilt-covered people. But, in an important moment of the world's history Jesus became that sacrificial lamb. Died on the cross as the sacrifice and his blood was shed as the atonement for our sins.
Thinking of our calling to be an offering at the altar of God, we understand that we are called to give ourselves as whole sacrifices for the mission of Christ Jesus. Commenting on the Whole Burnt Offerings, the Biblical commentary of John. W. Ritenbaugh describes the offering as having four distinctive characteristics.
It is a sweet savor to God.
It is offered for acceptance in the stead of the offerer.
A life is given.
It is completely burned up.
Looking at the above important characteristics of a Whole Burnt Offering, we are able to realise the amount of sacrificial quality that is expected from us as living sacrifices. We are called to offer sweet savor to God through our true worship and adoration. Second, to live a sacrificial life that would stand on behalf of others, just like how Christ Jesus did to us on the cross. We are called to carry the burden of others. And then, we are also called to give our entire life. A total devotion towards God. All parts of our life is to be given. And finally, we completely lose ourselves at the end, so that we may be a sacrificial offering to the service of God.
But as the obedience to this call, to be at the altar as the sacrifice, grows in us, we are also reminded about an important point from the same passage of the Bible where maintaining the fire without the fire fading away is truly important. The verse that we have focused on tells us that "the fire must be kept burning on the altar, and it must not be allowed to go out." And that is the secret of a powerful ministry following a powerful calling from God. An offering, at the altar, with the fire kept burning, is the perfect picture of a God-led ministry. And the Bible reminds us not to allow the fire to go out.
My dear friends in Christ, it may be true that you have sacrificed and given yourself as an offering at the altar for the service of God, but you need to keep the fire of passion, faith and calling burning as you continue to serve God. It is only when this fire is kept burning, the offering of your life becomes meaningful.
It has become a common thing in the Christian lifestyle nowadays that we easily offer ourselves at the altar, but seldom that we continue to be burning with the passion and faith, through the help of the Holy Spirit. And that is why this Bible passage points out the importance of maintaining the fire without allowing it to go out.
I pray that our lives would become a blessing to others by the sacrificial offering that we make at the altar (God's presence). I also pray that we will live a life, with the help of the Holy Spirit, which continues to burn with that passion and faith in God.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
