Tag: snatch from fire
Day 2–Snatching them from fire
Scripture reading for May 12: Jude 19-23 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in you most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
As a volunteer firefighter and a follower of Jesus, this verse has always caught my attention and given me a vision for the purpose of our department. We are here in our community to save lives of those who may be caught in a fire. Our first priority when arriving on the scene is to ascertain if there are any persons inside the structure and where they might be in relation to the fire. If we know that someone is inside, we make every effort to locate them and remove them from the smoke and fire that can quickly take their lives.
In doing this, we use the equipment provided to protect us as we go in to rescue the victims. We have fire-retardant suits that are designed to protect us to 600 degrees. We strap on air tanks with masks to supply smoke-free air and protect our lungs. We work in teams to watch out for our safety, often dragging a rope with us to guide us back out or a fire hose to suppress the fire. Our goal is to reach the trapped person and quickly remove them from danger and to make it out ourselves.
We can see the spiritual parallel in yesterday’s devotion and today’s passage. We, as God’s beloved, are to prepare ourselves to walk by faith each day and show God’s love to those we are sent to. Prayer in the Holy Spirit empowers us to intercede for those needing rescue from sin and fires of human passion apart from God. God empowers us by the Holy Spirit to show mercy on all and at times, to snatch the doubters from the fires that would destroy them. We must do this with humility and love, being careful not to get caught in the fire ourselves.
Prayer: Father God, build me up today as I pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep me in Your love and show Your great mercy by enabling me to snatch from the fire those caught by their bad decisions and flesh. Amen.
Build yourself up in holy faith!
Scripture reading for July 15th: 1st Kings 17-18, Psalm 119, Jude
Jude 18-23 “They (the Apostles) said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus and wrote this letter to remind believers about the difficult times of the last days before Christ Jesus would return. Jude quoted the Apostle’s warning about scoffers in the last days being numerous and causing division in the church. God’s antidote was for believers to build themselves up through praying in the Holy Spirit and keeping in the love of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray when we don’t even know how to pray. God’s Spirit brings a river of God’s love into our inner man and clothes us with an anointing of fresh oil to empower us to love and reach out to those who doubt and even to those in danger of the fires of hell. Love never fails!
Jude 24-25 “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help me to pray and stay on course in these perilous last days. Help me to show mercy to those who doubt and to reach out to those in danger of Hell’s fires with the message of Christ’s salvation. It is comforting to know that You will keep me from falling and present me before Your Presence with great joy! Praise Your Name forever and ever!
Psalm 119:114-115 “You are my Hiding Place and my Shield; I hope in Your Word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I my keep the commandments of My God.”