Monday, March 23, 2009

A Heart on Fire for God

Last Sunday morning I was looking over my message again before getting ready for church - reading the biblical story of Elijah and the widow. 1 Kings 17:8-9 says, Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you. Yet when Elijah found the woman, she was not preparing a meal for him, but for herself and her son. In fact, I have to wonder if she was trying to make and eat the meal as quickly as possible before Elijah got there. Elijah had to teach her a valuable lesson that many Christians have not learned - namely that God expects us to put Him first in everything we do. God wants the first part of our day, the first day of our week, the first part of our income and first place above all other relationships. If we want to live lives that are Spirit-filled and walk with steps ordered by the Lord, we must make Jesus Christ priority number one. When the men of our church returned from a recent Bible conference in North Carolina, one man asked how we can continue to have that feeling that comes from attending an exciting event. The only way that I know for a Christian to have a heart on fire for God is to listen as God speaks through His Word - and respond by speaking to Him in prayer. It might not sound new and fresh, but it works. Give God first place and see what happens.

CAP