The heat feels so good! A brightly blazing wood stove seems to warm you to the bone! It comforts and consoles. When you back up to it, and your jeans smell like they are being ironed—at that point, it feels like it, too. You have to ease away and let it cool a little. Burning wood is a lot of work, and it is a dirty operation, with dirt and debris falling off the wood as you handle it. At the moment of warming, it is all worth it. This round of ice and snow and winter weather took a big chunk out of the wood pile, but we are thankful we had it. Lord willing, we will have more for next winter. In the home setting, the fire provides warmth and comfort. Fire is used for many things in many arenas. In the industrial setting fire can provide the power to purify and solidify. Precious metal can be heated, melted, purified, and re-shaped into the purposes of the master craftsman. Pliable clay can be fired to become bricks with which to build a house, or it can be pots to carry life-giving water. With what comes out of the fire, the Master Craftsman can make the material to build the house in which He can dwell, and He can make the vessel for the water from the well. He takes the clay and aligns it toward the assignment, then with the fire, he sets it in its purpose. It is promised in the Word of God that Jesus will immerse believers in the Holy Ghost and fire. This is a promised operation of God that He, the Master Craftsman, will immerse us in His Spirit and fire. He will work in our lives to shape us and mold us. He will use the fire to permanently set us in the purpose for which He designed us. We are in a predicted time in our world (Malachi 3:16—4:6), in which there is a spiritual fire burning. This fire is working in our lives to show who we really are before the Lord. This fire will purify us, and prepare us for His purposes. As we turn from our pride and self-righteousness and receive the fire of God, we begin seeing God’s good purpose for our life. As we reverence the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as our Lord over all, then we receive the warmth and comfort of the fire. We receive healing and wholeness and peace and power in believing in Jesus. As we continue on to know the Lord, going from faith-to-faith, the same fire that purifies and comforts, will also work in our life to finish and “set” us in the purpose for which the Master Craftsman designed us. As we repent, as we turn from holding to our life and turn to receive His life and “fire,” we enjoy His assignment for us and all the benefits of His love and goodness toward us.
Alignment to the Assignment
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