Another In The Fire – Get Me Outta Here!
One of my recent favorite worship songs is, “There is Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United. The first stanza and chorus of the song go like this:
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way, when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space in between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone(Chorus)
There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
There is another in the fire
You should listen to the whole song—it’s really powerful!
When I think of the faith of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I feel like a spiritual wimp! Celebrating my 32nd spiritual birthday February 16th, I wonder how I would respond if placed in similar circumstances. I believe, should that happen, the assurances from Jesus in Luke 12:11-12 would be true for me:
“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”
I want to think that my witness of perseverance under trials and stress would, just like these young men demonstrated, draw people to Jesus. I want to present another way of dealing with the challenges of our time. These thoughts give me pause to intercede for our Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia, for all the leaders to seek peace and pursue it. The love of Jesus changed that part of the world before, and we must pray that it happens again!
Jesus told us that we would experience all of this. In John 16:33 he said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Take heart, Jesus says. In other words, have hope—faith-filled hope. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:5, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
As Pastor Ben said this weekend, faith-filled hope moves us from an “if only” to an “even if”.
The YouTube version linked above features an ending not found in the original lyrics. It goes:
Even if he doesn’t
I will praise him
Even if he doesn’t
I will stand tall
Even if he doesn’t
I’m not bowing to this world
Even if he doesn’t
I ain’t changing my confession
That’s the faith I want to present to the world. I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit I will have this faith, even if….
Questions:
How are your faith muscles holding up? What spiritual exercises might you engage in to strengthen your confidence in the power of Jesus to hold you, even if…?
Are you spending daily time reading God’s Word and praying? If not, why not? How can you begin?
Next Steps:
One of the most important things you can do as a Christian is to find fellow Christ followers, 2 or 3 people who will walk with you through your life as a believer. They will love you enough to encourage and strengthen you, and call you out when you drift in the wrong direction. And you will do the same for them. Join a Group to help you find these people.
Most importantly, become the hands and feet of Christ in your world. One way to do this is through the Hope It Helps campaign.
Take 15 minutes each day to read God’s word and pray.
Prayer:
My Jesus, thank you for never leaving or forsaking me! I trust that and know it to be true, even if (fill in the blank). Every time I seek you and your will, you will use every circumstance I find myself in to teach me more about your love for me! I know you will always stand in the fire next to me! Prince of Peace, shower your grace, peace, and mercy on our world.
This post was written by Lauri White. Lauri is one of the 25 people that God used to start CedarCreek in the Fall of 1995, and was on staff until 2013. Lauri loves Jesus, and loves helping people, especially women, live out of the truth about who we are in Christ. She and her husband Mike live in Oregon, but now spend winter months in Florida near daughter Kelda and her family.
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