Sep 30

As an example of how the words of God release power into the heart of its hearers, consider the two disciples to whom the Lord spoke on their way home to Emmaus. What did they say after he had spoken the words of God to them? They said that their hearts burned within them as he spoke to them.

Tongues of fire.

God's Word is like fire in the heart, a fire that burns inside the heart and yearns to spread out to others (Jer. 20:9).

"'Is not my word like fire?' declares the Lord" (Jer. 23:29).

People of the world often speak arrogantly and blasphemously of the Lord. Their words are proud and strong. But the words of the Lord are even stronger. He will make his words a fire that consumes their fire. "I will make my words in your mouth a fire" (Jer. 5:14).

This does not mean that we are to fight fire with fire, speaking just as abusively to unbelievers as they do to us and to our God. It does mean that our gentle words offering free salvation to them in Christ will burn like fire in their hearts, convicting some and bringing them to repentance, while offending others and goading them onto yet greater defiance of the Lord. Either way, words are like fire and we are called on by the Lord to make sure that our words have his holy fire in them and not the fire of human judgment of others.

Scripture for today: Jeremiah 35:17
Thought for today: God's Word is a fire in the heart.
Prayer for today: Lord, set my heart on fire with your Word.

SEP 30