The Fuel of Service

Based on Leviticus 8-10, Matthew 25:31-46

Sometimes, even doing a meaningful good thing can be exhausting. As we talked about before, it could be tempting to let that fire go out...but one way to keep the energy up and a right heart & Spirit in the matter is to remember what the fuel behind the service really is! The work is for Jesus, and He is the fuel! HE IS THE CONSUMING FIRE! The fuel to the fire in our service and relationship with God is He Himself. If we become self-willed, that consuming fire will come upon us unawares...

"For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29.

...Just ask Aaron's sons! 2 of Aaron's sons were caught up in their own process, their own way of doing things. Too concerned with their own and not God alone. They sacrificed their way instead of God's way, like Cain!

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord , which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." Leviticus 10:1-2.

Their strange fire caused The Lord's consuming fire to burn forth! Remember, it's The Lord's work before it's our work! His fire originally consumed the offerings, not the fire made by Aaron's sons!

"And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord , and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces."
Leviticus 9:23‭-‬24.

This event of God's fire consuming the offerings took place right before Aaron's sons committed that sin against God. You'd think they'd understand the strength of God's fire and the power more than anyone else! But when God isn't our fuel, we are just onlookers. We are not in-takers! We see, but we do not love and appreciate what's taking place. It goes as far as our eyes, but not our heart! Our fuel has to be Jesus! That way, we won't let our strange fuel & fire get in the way!

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Matthew 25:41‭-‬46.

We can think we have the service of God all figured out. But without reaching out & putting our faith into action, there is no fuel behind our work. We might as well be offering strange fire like Aaron's sons...and as we can see from this New Testament passage, GOD IS STILL A CONSUMING FIRE! HE IS STILL THE FUEL AND REASON FOR SERVICE! Because, if we don't reach out to the least, we are not serving Jesus. He is there in those moments. He is there to give us strength before those moments come. Let Him be your fuel today!