“For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.” – Psalm 102:3
Fire in the Hearth
We all see different things in a fire as we stare into the burning embers. Imaginary scenes appear. Miniscule creatures, conjured up by our minds, dance among the flames. Air pockets explode in tiny eruptions of sound. Twigs break and logs crackle. Smoke rises and carefully constructed stacks of wood fall.
The fire consumes and we behold its mysteries.
We are warmed and we are captivated by such fires. Cozy memories gather around the images provoked.
That is because we do not imagine ourselves being consumed by the fire. That is a different story.
If we think of ourselves as disintegrating in the hearth-fire that is not a pleasant thought. We prefer to think of our lives as lasting forever. We even, erroneously suspect that our bodies can remain intact. Especially, in our youth, we tend to feel invisible.
Fire reminds us that anything, with enough heat, can be consumed.
The Twin Towers shattered our illusions of invulnerability.
Anything can crack.
So, the fire in the hearth and the burning in our heart lead us to pray, “ Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.” – Psalm 102:1-2
He goes on to describe his brokenness, wounds, and utter weariness. Out of despair, amidst the flames, he prays, he cries out to God, and he comes to the conclusion of faith, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.”
Two things are true. The first is that we are consumable. But God declares, “thou shalt endure.” So the second truth is that with God in the fire, we are not consumed.
These words were written as church bulletin devotional for churches who offer Master Sunday Bulletins to their congregations. May it serve as a source of encouragement to you today. You are welcome to copy this devotion for one-time non-commercial, local church, or educational use. Please include the copyright line printed below with any reproduction. © Master Sunday Bulletins 2012. All rights reserved. Published by Master Sunday Bulletins · Merri V. Dennis, Publisher · Thomas B. Sims, Author