Luke 12:35-37 (KJV) Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Henry went through some things that made him almost discouraged and give up his faith. His faith seemed waning and his joy in the Lord diminished, but because he was properly taught, he understood that all the devil was aiming at was to extinguish [the fire of] his faith. He thus strengthened himself with the remembrance of the hope of the Lord’s coming and the glory that shall be revealed. Just like the Thessalonians were instructed to do(see 1 Thessalonians 4:18), Henry found encouragement in being focused on the hope of our calling(the resurrection of the dead and the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ).
In the midst of the raging storms, if you take that hope away from the believer, his faith will be extinguished. Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
In the verses above, we see a call to alertness and keeping our fires burning. You cannot be alert and ready for the Lord’s coming if your fire is not burning. This quickly reminds me of the Parable of the wise and foolish Virgins in Matthew 25:14-30. In order for the virgins to be ready for the coming of the bridegroom, their lamps needed to have oil and the fire burning.
In Isaiah 62:1, we see righteousness and salvation likened to a burning lamp. A believer whose fire is burning is one who is living the life and working the work. He is one who is not discouraged, weary or distracted, but one whose salvation continues to produce the attendant fruits. A believer whose light has gone out is one who has backslidden.
Go into today remembering that God does not give us warnings that are not necessary. There is the threat of many people’s lights going out because of discouragement and distractions, but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me remain alert and keep my fire burning. Deliver me from discouragements and distractions. Amen.
Yearly Bible Plan: Habakkuk (In Devotional Audio)
Credits: Audio Bible(Bible Experience, Zondervan). Music(CeCe Winans – He’s Never Failed Me Yet)
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