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Stoking the Fire of Faith

Whenever I prepare to write a devotional, I find that God brings something to mind that gets me going on a topic. This week, maybe because of Hallowe’en, bonfires came to mind; specifically, summer Bible Camp bonfires. You may have had a similar experience to the one I had at Daybreak Point Bible Camp on Anvil Island. During the course of the evening, while the chilly darkness surrounded us, those who wanted to intentionally remember where God had made His presence known in their lives stood and shared these thoughts with the group and then threw a piece of dry wood on the fire. From time to time someone might start a song of praise or worship and more wood was added. Gradually the fire grew brighter and stronger.

In the Bible, God uses the word “fire” metaphorically to represent many different things. But around the campfire, it was clearly a symbol of faith. When you feed the fire, it grows in size and intensity; when you feed your faith, it expands and becomes more passionate. It was a connection that none of us missed.

As Christians, passionate faith is our aim. But Just as we cannot rely on old logs to keep the fire burning, we also cannot rely on the faith of yesterday to keep our relationship with God flourishing today. Keeping our passion alive for God is something that we must choose to do each and every day. God’s love is always available, but if we don’t find ourselves constantly receiving that love and if we don’t keep going back for more, our unique and beautiful relationship with God will diminish to embers, ceasing to produce anything of value.

So today how can each of us stoke the fire of our faith so it grows and glows stronger in the darkness?

1.We can take some time to trace the path of our journey with God. Get alone with God and reminisce on how your faith has grown from a tiny spark to what it is today.

2. We can look for opportunities to learn more about Jesus and his teaching.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Spend time reading and studying the Word of God and involving yourself in Christian education lectures and studies. Investigate one of the wonderful online resources such as RightNow Media. If you aren’t already signed up, Adele at the St. Stephen’s office (250-752-9831) can make it happen at no cost to you.

3. We can talk to God in prayer.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
…pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17

4. We can be obedient to God’s directives. Obedience keeps our faith burning strong. Obedience keeps the lines of communication open and fosters our dependence on God.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. James 4:7

5. We can spend time in the community of other Christians. As Dianne said in her sermon last Sunday, “We need to be able to share our faith; we need to be able to watch together for how God makes his presence known”. Even though, for a while Covid-19 has forced us to limit our face-to-face interactions with others, we can still be in regular contact through phone and internet with each other. When we watch the online service, it’s a bit easier to feel connected when we see a number of our congregation worshiping with us.

6. We can find as many ways as possible to be a friend to those in need and to use the gifts God has given each one of us personally to do this.

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

7. Finally we can open ourselves to allow God to continue to work in our life.

And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Let all these ways of growing our faith be our firewood. And remember that daily renewal of our faith is essential to fan the flames into a roaring fire.


Here are two great contemporary songs that follow up on these thoughts:
Faith on Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quk88CPonug
Breakthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zaLh6y9W7E

and two traditional songs I know you’ll enjoy:
Faith, Hope and Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYufbfcc4vU
Give me Oil in my Lamp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zaLh6y9W7E