As The Fire Burned: Recent Episodes
James I. McDonald
As The Fire Burned simply seeks to use God-given reasoning and spiritual enlightenment (from God’s Holy Spirit) to discern the times and fulfill the mission Christ left to His Church (ambassadors); the true meaning of ‘occupy till He returns’!
In musing, we are encouraging the saints to stop and take a minute to think about the things they think they believe and understand, uncovering the truths of God’s Word and holding onto the meaning, endeavoring to apply it in our lives when applicable.
The Bible speaks of us as pilgrims on the Earth. What does that mean? Is there any way that our lives should reflect this thought process?
In this musing, we will look at the pilgrim mentality and what it means to walk through this world as a pilgrim for Christ’s sake.
There are very many things that those with no regard for God practice. We know these things, but how far should we go in our knowledge? The Bible tells us that it is shameful to speak of those things that they do in secret. What does this mean? What causes it to be shameful and what does that mean for our conversation?
These things will be considered in this musing.
Is it possible for a Christian to be involved in an improper conversation, or are we free to engage in any topic that crosses our minds?
In this musing we will consider what it means to involve ourselves in wrong conversations; in things that we shouldn’t be talking about. We will also consider what the Bible has to say on the subject as it is not silent.
How many countless number of times have you heard the phrase, “Only God can judge me?” I know, it must be countless. And usually, it’s used as a justification of a lifestyle that is contrary to God. Well, I wanted to muse a little about this thought process, what the truth of it is, and how we deal with a statement that seems so broad and protected against reproof, edification, and correction…
No curse seems beautiful for the present. However, if one looks closely enough, it just may be possible to find some beauty even in the worst of curses.
In this musing, we will consider how it is possible that there is some beauty that remains and was, in fact, created by the reality of sin’s curse. As God is a great Creator, so He was not left confused when His Creation was impacted by sin.
What does it mean to be truly content? Why is it that the Bible teaches us to practice contentment? Is it simply a means by which we may lead a happy life, or is there more to this important principle?
In this musing, we will consider the value of living a contended life, along with its vital nature. We will see how contentment is far more than a way to have a happy life, it is, in fact, one of the most important things that will aid us in our ability to live our lives for the sake of God’s glory.
Christians have been taught to believe that God is nothing more than a prayer-answering-genie. Therefore, when our prayers seem to be unheeded, we often doubt him; wondering as to his existence, care for us, or simply why we are being neglected while others prosper. In this musing, we will consider this thought, seeking to gain an understanding as to why God didn’t answer our prayers.
Society has taught us that having a closed mind is a bad thing. More and more, this thought process has trickled throughout all aspects of our lives: movies, schools, music, and even church. Is it true that having a closed mind is a universally bad thing? Should we, the saints, have open minds to the world around us? Thankfully, the Bible is not silent on such topics as we will see today as we muse.
One of the hardest choices humans face is deciding whom to please. From our youth, we are taught to please people in some way. From our parents, to our teachers, to our friends, we are pressed to make sure people are satisfied with us. But, if we’re so anxious to please the humans around us, what does that leave for God? In this musing, we will consider how seeking to please men interferes with our responsibility to please God.
When considering profanity, most people think of a list of words they were taught not to say because of their foul nature. However, considering the truths of scripture, is the thought process of profanity as simple as this? Is it possible that certain words offend God more than others and we should therefore stay away from them? In this musing, we will consider the true nature of biblical profanity and what it means for our conversations and lives.
Suppose God gave you a command—would you follow it? Now suppose you didn’t understand the nature of that command, but still knew it was from God. Would you follow it then? There are so many things we’re told of God through scripture, some of them hard to understand. This musing considers the nature of God’s children as we seek to do as he commands. When we aren’t sure why, are we just as zealous to fulfill God’s desires as we are when we know exactly what he seeks of us?
A horrible trend has infiltrated the church. It is the trend of deflecting questions by simply claiming God has given you some revelation others have yet to receive. Many Christians, for lack of doctrine, hide behind the idea that God has showed them something, commissioning them to spread the message of that hidden thing. Is this true? Is God revealing secret things to people that the Bible has not revealed? If so, should we simply sit back without question, allowing such things to take hold? We will consider this thought process while we muse.
Why do we read the Bible? Is it simply a healthy practice that all Christians ought to follow, or is there something more that should come from our time in these words that were inspired by God? In this musing, we will consider the purpose for reading the Bible. We will consider if there is a divine reasoning beyond what is often left on the surface. We will think about whether we are free to get from it what we choose, or if there is a set plan for such a great and necessary gift.
In today’s society, God is constantly under attack. His ways are often seen as antiquated and not to be followed; and this not only by those who stand on the outside of the Body of Christ? Due to this, it is not rare for the saint to find themselves in a position where they’re asked to defend God. In this musing, we will consider the thought process of defending God: does he need defense, how would we go about defending the perfect God, and what are the biblical views of God needing to be defended.
Have you ever heard someone say that a person died before their time at the hands of a tragedy, or simply because they were young? Is this possible? Could it be that somehow people can die before they were intended to? In this musing, we will consider this thought that is sometimes hard to understand and even harder to accept.
Are you a religious person? Maybe you would say you’re spiritual. So often, people use the terms “religious” and “spiritual” interchangeably. Is it true that these two words mean the same thing? Could it be possible that one has more value than the other? In this musing, we will consider the difference between religion and spirituality.
The Bible calls us ambassadors and truly we are. However, when considering the fact that we have all spent our time under the rule of the corrupt god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), are we sure we are representing the right kingdom? Is there a way we can know? In this musing, we consider whether or not we are truly serving God’s Kingdom as ambassadors, or the kingdom of this corrupt and decaying world, for truly, there is no middle ground.