"Would You not have us call down fire?" -Luke 9:54
Near the end of Jesus'
public ministry, Samaritans would not allow Jesus and his disciples to pass
through their town because they were headed toward Jerusalem. St. John the
apostle asked Jesus if he could call down fire from heaven to "destroy" those
Samaritans (Lk 9:52-54). Jesus refused him, reprimanding John on the spot (Lk
9:55).
Jesus did eventually allow John to call down fire from heaven onto
the Samaritans. Philip had taken the gospel in power to the unbelieving
Samaritans, and they received the Word of God (Acts 8:5ff). "When the apostles
in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them. The two...prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit"
(Acts 8:15). John laid his hands on those whom he had earlier wished to
incinerate, and the fire of God, the Holy Spirit, did fall upon them to consume
them with the love of God (Acts 8:17). Jesus gave John his wish, but not in the
way John had expected.
Are there any individuals or groups of people whom
you wouldn't mind having God remove from earth? Can you imagine if Jesus
eventually used you as His agent to bring these people into new life in the
Spirit? If we are to love our enemies, we need that same conversion John
experienced. Repent! Forgive and love your enemies (Lk 6:35). "Receive the Holy
Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
Jesus, send the fire of the Holy Spirit
to burn away the hardness in my heart. May I lead thousands to receive the
Spirit.
"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you." -Zec 8:23
10/2/13
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