That’s the Spirit

Today we move on to the 2nd verse of Come down O love Divine with firey words. 

There let it freely burn

till earthly passions turn

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

and let your glorious light

shine ever on my sight,

and make my pathway clear, by your illuming.

In Matthew 3:11 we find John the Baptist saying, "I baptise you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire." 

John the Baptist warns that a deeper purification is to come, at the hands of the ‘one…coming after me’ - purification by fire. We remember what had been said long before - that no human can look on the face of God and live ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ (Exodus 33:20). The brightness and holiness of God could burn up any impurity in sight.

So much of the discussion of this passage focuses on whether fire means judgment or purification. All sorts of interpretative clues are examined. Scholarship is divided. So which do you think it is? My answer is "Yes! Jesus both judges and purifies." From this passage and its parallels, I believe John the Baptist probably intended for us to hear both points. 

There are many occasions throughout the bible that speaks of God's fiery presence. But as Samuel Chadwick says there is something about the “Spirit filled souls that are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.”

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise
and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.