Devotional: God’s Fire: Judgment, Truth, and the Urgency of Now

Day 1 – The Fire of God's Purifying Judgment

Read: Luke 12:49–50; Isaiah 5:1–7

“I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” – Luke 12:49

Observation:

Jesus doesn’t speak in soft tones here — He speaks with urgency and intensity. The fire He refers to is symbolic of God's judgment and purification. It is holy fire: not random destruction, but a divine act of refining and preparation.

Isaiah describes a vineyard that produced wild grapes instead of good fruit. God’s disappointment with His people leads to judgment.

Jesus, too, sees the fruitlessness of His generation — and He knows the Cross (His “baptism”) is the fire that will ignite a new movement. Nothing will remain untouched by it.

Challenge:

Where is God calling you to be refined? What needs to be surrendered to His holy fire?

Prayer:

Lord, You are holy, and Your fire is just.

Purify me. Burn away what is unfruitful.

Give me the courage to let go of what cannot stand in Your presence.

Amen.