Do You Have Fire in Your Bones?

Encounter: Read or listen to Jeremiah 18 and Acts chapter 4 asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and make you aware of what is good and true in these passages. Begin to think about how they are similar.

Do you notice that you express your faith differently with family compared to friends or acquaintances? I was thinking about this recently after spending a week with my family up at the lakes. There were times I could get grumpy or not be at my best Jesus-like self:) I started to consider not just how I expressed myself, but also what I left unsaid.

In all the ways I am striving to grow deeper in my relationship with God, it seems I should have more to say about what its like come to know the Creator of the universe. The reality is that when you're enthusiastic about something, you'll seize every chance to share it with others. It makes me reflect on why I sometimes don't.

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t stay quiet? Jeremiah the prophet described God’s word like a fire inside him—burning in his bones so strongly that he had to speak (Jeremiah 20:9).

Centuries later, Peter and John said almost the same thing. When ordered to stop preaching about Jesus, they replied: “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Both Jeremiah and the apostles faced opposition. Speaking God’s truth threatened the comfort, power, and idols of their day. The same is true now—living for Jesus and letting your life speak will sometimes stir up resistance.

Reflect: So how do we keep the fire burning?

• Stay in God’s Word. Like Jeremiah, let it be your joy and delight.

• Be filled with the Spirit. Pray for courage and boldness.

• Stay in community. Faith grows stronger together.

• Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is our endurance and our hope.

  
  

The question for us is simple: Do you have fire in your bones? Will your life speak for Jesus?

May we shine brightly, not because of our own strength, but because the Spirit of God sets us ablaze.

Letting My Life Speak,

Pastor T

Spiritual Practice: Take a few minutes to reflect on some of the things you have seen and heard since being a Christ follower. Reflect and ask the Spirit if there is someone you are to share some of your story with. Begin to ask the Spirit to fill you to overflowing for this encounter.

Gather: Share with your small group what it was like to share your faith, or something you have seen or experienced as a Christ follower. Pray the prayer for courage in Acts 4:23-30 together in unison. Pray for each other that you would have boldness and the Spirit would ignite a fire in your bones to speak naturally about Jesus.