First United Methodist Church, Elizabethton, TN -

Rev. Ray's Daily Devotion

“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26:20

When the kids were small, and the winters were cold we had oil heat in the parsonage. It seemed like oil and money had a way of running out at the same time. When the tank was getting low, we tried even harder to conserve fuel. It was always a particularly good feeling when the oil truck drove away, and the tank was full. On that day we splurged and turned the heat up for a little while just to bake our bones. It is funny how things seemed hard back then, but now we look back at what good times they really were.

There is a time to add fuel to the fire, and a time to let the fire go out. Wisdom is knowing the time. Who among us has not been fuel for gossip; perhaps even gossip that burned and hurt someone? Love refuses to be kindling or firewood for rumor.

Jesus did say, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” That fire is the Gospel that gives both light and heat and warms the hearts of God's people. Gospel fuel is like Moses’ burning bush; it burns but is not consumed. We never have to worry about the tank being empty.

It takes a lot of wood to keep revival fires burning, especially during a pandemic. What are you doing to help make sure that the fire does not burn out in your own heart, and in the church that you love? I believe that our churches will indeed survive this and come out stronger than ever. Right now, we all are needed to do our part whether we are back in our place of worship, or still being the church at home.

The pandemic has not stopped the devil from his destructive deeds; and we dare not let it stop us from reaching others for Christ. The prayer of Bishop Ralph Cushman says it so well: “Set us afire, Lord, stir us, we pray! While the world perishes, we go our way, purposeless, passionless, day after day. Set us afire, Lord, stir us we pray!”

Another good hymn: “As a fire is meant for burning
with a bright and warming flame,
So the church is meant for mission,
giving glory to God’s name.
Not to preach our creeds or customs,
but to build a bridge of care,
We join hands across the nations,
finding neighbors everywhere.”

Grace and Peace, Rev Ray