John 18 - Playing with Fire

Fire is more than a physical element in Scripture. It's the very essence of God's presence, his consuming love, and the transformative power that shapes us into his image. From the burning bush that wasn't consumed to the flames that danced on Pentecost, we see that God invites us to dwell in his glory without being destroyed.

God designed the entire universe to teach us about himself. Even his name, Yahweh, is pronounced with every breath we take—an exhale and an inhale that connects us continuously to him. The tabernacle, the temple, the altar—all were ablaze with God's presence, showing us that worship isn't just an activity but an experience of dwelling in his consuming yet life-giving fire.

Peter's denial by the wrong fire is a warning for us: in a world full of competing fires such as worldly approval, political ideologies and cultural pressures, we must warm ourselves by God's fire alone.

We must become fire-breathers in the best sense, carrying God's purifying presence into a dark world that desperately needs his light and warmth.