On Fire for God: Daily Obedience That Imitates Christ

Summary

Being on fire for God means imitating Jesus through daily obedience, even when it involves sacrifice or suffering. Christ chose faithfulness over comfort, and believers are called to do the same. Preparing for crises begins with consistent obedience today. Though the world pressures us to conform, each “yes” to God and “no” to self strengthens our resolve and lays the foundation for a faithful, abundant life.

What It Means to Be Truly on Fire for God

A church building caught fire one night. The pastor remarked to the fire chief, “This is the first time I have seen you in church.” The chief replied, “This is the first time I have seen your church on fire.”

Becoming Like Jesus Is Our Destiny

Those on fire for God imitate Jesus. Being like Him is our destiny. God implants within us the desire to be kinder, compassionate, and loving towards others. To be such, we must quit trying to get our way in everything.

Obedience That May Involve Suffering

Being like Jesus includes imitating His willingness to suffer, if necessary, to do God’s will. It is relatively easy to behave like a Christian in the presence of other Christians.

It is far more challenging when refusing to lie or cheat for an employer means losing our jobs.

Champion marathon athletes run despite pain. Jesus obeyed despite the pain and the prospect of more pain.

He did not give up or cave in when doing so could have prevented His crucifixion. He went to the cross because He chose obedience to His Father over personal comfort and safety.

Preparing Now for Future Crises

Have you wondered whether you would deny Christ if your survival depended on it? Staying true to God in a crisis could be your last step in a long walk of obedient living.

We must prepare our minds before the crisis comes. If obeying God is a habit, the crisis will not unnerve us.

Until God calls us home, we are to do His will, not fulfill our evil desires as we once did. We have already done too much of that. Sin no longer dominates us if we are willing to suffer for God’s kingdom and righteousness.

Those on fire for God have done an about-face. Like childish behavior, we must leave sinful behavior behind us.

Resisting Pressure to Conform

It will not be easy. We face ongoing pressure to adopt a degrading way of life. Unbelieving friends will tug, pull, coax, cajole, tempt, and entice us to join them.

The world continually pressures us to conform to its corrupt standards. For example, the media treats excessive alcohol consumption as more normal than eating, judging by the time given to each.

I attended a social gathering of fellow workers in the 1970s. Everyone was drinking to excess except one other person. They made fun of us.

My boss asked whether I was going to become a nun or something. Funny thing. As everyone drank, I got better and better at table tennis as the night went on!

Daily Choices That Build an Abundant Life

Living for God is a daily decision. Every “Yes” to God and “No” to self today makes tomorrow’s “Yes” and “No” slightly easier. The bricks of daily obedience pave the road to an abundant life.

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)