Skylar's Blog & Podcast

Luke 2:36-37

I have had a history of enjoying a little thing called fire. Some of you know this already, and some of you have even dabbled yourself in the art of pyrotechnics. One of my favorites is non-dairy creamer. I won't go any further because I'm afraid I'll get someone in trouble, but...non-dairy creamer. Anyways, have you ever lit something big on fire? I don't mean like a ball of paper, I mean like a table! If you haven't then there is a moment before you light this huge thing on fire where you pause, and you realize, this situation is about to get a little hairy. However, after that pause, you realize you really want to see this object burn, and away it goes! It is so easy to light something on fire, all it takes is a match and a little lighter fluid. But it doesn't matter how easy it is to light something on fire, there is always the resistance to follow through because we're afraid of the ramifications (as well as the legal problems you'll have). You could be afraid you'll light whatever it is on fire and all of a sudden change your mind, but it's too late! What was once a lovely dining table is now ash!

Anna is a seemingly insignificant character in the Gospel of Luke, but if you would sit and meditate on what her life was like you would realize she is anything but insignificant. Anna lost her husband after just 7 years of marriage, but did not spend any time sulking about her loss. She did the only thing she saw as worth her while: she worshipped God. However, she didn't just worship God, Luke records that she "...did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day." Anna stayed within the temples' grounds for around 65 years! You want to know the crazy thing? I don't think many of us have taken 65 minutes out of our day to spend solely worshipping God on our own. However, I know if I were to ask any of you it would be unanimous that we want to burn with the same passion that Anna had for Jesus. So, my question is what is stopping us? I can only answer for myself, and two things immediately jump out and tell me why I won't give myself so freely to my Savior: first, I don't fully trust God has much to offer me if I hand over the keys to my life. I catch myself often looking around for greener pastures as I walk with God. Second, I am scared about what will happen. If you follow closely the characters God uses to change the world you will notice a common denominator: God's calling on their lives is never easy. In fact, life takes a quick turn for the more difficult for most people when they let God take the reins. But isn't this what we want? Don't we want to give ourselves for a greater cause? Don't we want to be a part of a bigger adventure? Don't we want to change the world? This is what our God calls us to, and He's calling you (yes you) today to offer Him everything and to see what He'll do. Anna dedicated her life to God in passionate worship and pursuit, and because of that He etched her into His story of redeeming the world. Don't you want that, too? Do you want specifics on what He's calling us to? Check out Matthew 28:16-18; Luke 9:23; John 12:24; and Matthew 5-7. So, will you strike the match, take one last look at what you thought was important, and let God set it, and you, on fire?