Burn away the Chaff
I was talking with my friend Kayla and we started talking about God being a consuming fire. That’s what it says in Hebrews 12 (one of my favorite chapters).
The Unshaken Kingdom
Within this, God is testing us, revealing our works. Our life is not about works. God loves us the same no matter what we do, but without works our faith is dead. We can be like the lyrics to Tree 63’s song “Look What You’ve Done For Me.”
It is a response to what God has done in our lives. But really it is looking at the foundation that has been laid in our lives. In Romans 3:11-13, it talks about this foundation that no man can lay. But if a man builds upon the foundation of Jesus then every man’s work will be made manifest (it will be shown). Paul lists six things. He lists; gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. He does not really break these up, but they seem obvious to be broken up, especially with what he goes on to say. He says that the way that a many work will be made manifest, is it shall be reviled by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work, to see what sort it is. Well, if it is reviled by fire I see three foundations that will stay, that which is gold, silver, and precious stones. The Wood, hay, and stubble will all be gone without a trace. We must be cautious, that we lay a correct foundation. He is going to shake and burn away all the parts that aren’t of Him or eternal. That, is what in the end really matters.
The Unshaken Kingdom
That is what God is doing in our lives. He is shaking our lives up, and wanting what is left of us to that which is eternal. He wants to consume us, to have all of us be focused on him. Even when we don’t feel close to him, we can come and show gratitude to him.See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking for if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.
Within this, God is testing us, revealing our works. Our life is not about works. God loves us the same no matter what we do, but without works our faith is dead. We can be like the lyrics to Tree 63’s song “Look What You’ve Done For Me.”
Look what You've done for me
Your blood has set me free
Jesus my Lord look what You've done for me
I haven't been the same
Ever since that day I called Your name
Yahweh
Yahweh Look What You've done for me
What can I do for You my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours
It's not a question of what You can do for me
But what can I do for You my Lord?
Up to Your cross I crawled
Now I am standing teen feet tall
Jesus my savior look what You've done for me
Free at last I'm free
I owe You my life completely
Yahweh
Yahweh look what You've done for me
Your blood has set me free
Jesus my Lord look what You've done for me
I haven't been the same
Ever since that day I called Your name
Yahweh
Yahweh Look What You've done for me
What can I do for You my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours
It's not a question of what You can do for me
But what can I do for You my Lord?
Up to Your cross I crawled
Now I am standing teen feet tall
Jesus my savior look what You've done for me
Free at last I'm free
I owe You my life completely
Yahweh
Yahweh look what You've done for me
It is a response to what God has done in our lives. But really it is looking at the foundation that has been laid in our lives. In Romans 3:11-13, it talks about this foundation that no man can lay. But if a man builds upon the foundation of Jesus then every man’s work will be made manifest (it will be shown). Paul lists six things. He lists; gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. He does not really break these up, but they seem obvious to be broken up, especially with what he goes on to say. He says that the way that a many work will be made manifest, is it shall be reviled by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work, to see what sort it is. Well, if it is reviled by fire I see three foundations that will stay, that which is gold, silver, and precious stones. The Wood, hay, and stubble will all be gone without a trace. We must be cautious, that we lay a correct foundation. He is going to shake and burn away all the parts that aren’t of Him or eternal. That, is what in the end really matters.
posted by Jacob at
1:12 AM
