I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Luke 12:49 NABRE
Jesus is focusing on why He has come, why He was sent by the Father. Luke quotes Jesus as saying He has come to set the earth on fire. Jesus does not want to burn things down, He wants to ignite a new kind of humanity, one where love is normal and caring for others is common. The fire Jesus is sparking is associated with “baptism,” a baptism Jesus has still to receive. The words fire and baptism are emphasized, pointing to the Holy Spirit. The combination of fire and baptism looks forward to Jesus sending of the Holy Spirit, particularly in tongues of fire at Pentecost, when the disciples where baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the kind of fire that will come down from heaven a fire that gives wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, piety and wonder. Accepting this fire we move toward becoming a more perfect human, naturally connected to God and one another. We will be ablaze with the yearning to live as Jesus lived. Before, the Holy Spirit can be given in this way Jesus must live the baptism of His passion and death in order to fulfill His mission. Jesus knows His mission and is focused on it; wishing His mission was already accomplished and the world was ablaze with a new kind of humanity.
We are not meant to be individuals climbing to a proverbial top, we are called to be a humanity on fire for one another. Joy filled when someone else has a good day, compassionate when someone doesn’t have a bad day. We are called to be kind, defined by @andy_stanley as sharing our strength with someone rather than reminding them of their weakness. We are to be on fire for one another, a new kind of humanity that we have yet to achieve.
What are you on fire for? How can you help set a Jesus blaze?
We are not meant to be individuals climbing to a proverbial top, we are called to be a humanity on fire for one another. Joy filled when someone else has a good day, compassionate when someone doesn't have a bad day. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fire #ablaze #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways