BBD 09.24.13 Smelling of Smoke (Classic)

#1 · September 24, 2013, 1:07 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 24, 2013, 1:07 pm
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating
15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush
Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000
subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

09.24.13

Smelling of Smoke

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s
building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master
builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work
which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through
fire. - 1 Corinthians 3:9-15.

In the Texas panhandle over the last few days (2006) there have
been wildfires burning at last count nearly 900,000 acres. Eleven people have
lost their lives because of the fire and many more injured. Huge numbers of
livestock and wildlife have been lost. There is reportedly one major fire still
burning in the area but more are expected with the high winds today. Sunday
afternoon the closest report of fire to us, just over the state line in
Oklahoma, was a little over 20 miles away at Wheeler, Texas. However, by late
in the afternoon we could see and smell the smoke. By the time, we gathered for
our evening service our sanctuary had smoke inside of it. You might have
thought we were in a smoke filled bar! As you would imagine, we started our
service that night with a season of prayer.

The apostle Paul reveals the result of a Christian living
a life focused on worldly things instead of putting first the Kingdom of God.
The result is going to be that their work, "is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so
as through fire." They will make it into
Heaven but you will probably be able to smell the smoke on them.

According to the Gallop Organization’s research, 8 in 10
of those living in the United States claim to be Christians. 59% of
Americans say that religion is very important to them while 34%
say they attend church every week.

Another Gallop poll asked these questions: I give my
time to help and serve others in my community 34%; My first
priority in spending money is to support God’s work 31%; I keep
my composure even when circumstances or people irritate me 20%; and
I am known for not raising my voice 19%. 47% said they
believed it was important to share their faith with others, 52% said
they pray for non-Christians to accept Christ as their Savior, and 54%
said that they speak words of kindness to those in need.

The poll numbers point to the fact that large numbers of
Christians, almost half or more may be in the making it to Heaven smelling of
smoke group. Large numbers of Christians or at least, those who claim to be
Christians, are not actually practicing their faith. One particularly troubling
answer was that only 28% regularly study the Bible to find direction
for their lives.

Life is very fragile and very precious - it is a gift.
Eternal life is also a gift. Serving God and living our lives for Him is a
gift. It is a wondrous thing that we are allowed the privilege to be "fellow workers" with God.

What is your life building in terms of eternity? Will
what you have built with your life still be standing when you enter into
Heaven? Or, will it all just be a smoky ruin?

Copyright © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com
View LinkedIn profile with endorsements at
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

--

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org

Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net

http://www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating
15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush
Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than 14,000
subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at http://www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

09.24.13

Smelling of Smoke

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s
building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master
builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work
which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through
fire. - 1 Corinthians 3:9-15.

In the Texas panhandle over the last few days (2006) there have
been wildfires burning at last count nearly 900,000 acres. Eleven people have
lost their lives because of the fire and many more injured. Huge numbers of
livestock and wildlife have been lost. There is reportedly one major fire still
burning in the area but more are expected with the high winds today. Sunday
afternoon the closest report of fire to us, just over the state line in
Oklahoma, was a little over 20 miles away at Wheeler, Texas. However, by late
in the afternoon we could see and smell the smoke. By the time, we gathered for
our evening service our sanctuary had smoke inside of it. You might have
thought we were in a smoke filled bar! As you would imagine, we started our
service that night with a season of prayer.

The apostle Paul reveals the result of a Christian living
a life focused on worldly things instead of putting first the Kingdom of God.
The result is going to be that their work, "is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so
as through fire." They will make it into
Heaven but you will probably be able to smell the smoke on them.

According to the Gallop Organization’s research, 8 in 10
of those living in the United States claim to be Christians. 59% of
Americans say that religion is very important to them while 34%
say they attend church every week.

Another Gallop poll asked these questions: I give my
time to help and serve others in my community 34%; My first
priority in spending money is to support God’s work 31%; I keep
my composure even when circumstances or people irritate me 20%; and
I am known for not raising my voice 19%. 47% said they
believed it was important to share their faith with others, 52% said
they pray for non-Christians to accept Christ as their Savior, and 54%
said that they speak words of kindness to those in need.

The poll numbers point to the fact that large numbers of
Christians, almost half or more may be in the making it to Heaven smelling of
smoke group. Large numbers of Christians or at least, those who claim to be
Christians, are not actually practicing their faith. One particularly troubling
answer was that only 28% regularly study the Bible to find direction
for their lives.

Life is very fragile and very precious - it is a gift.
Eternal life is also a gift. Serving God and living our lives for Him is a
gift. It is a wondrous thing that we are allowed the privilege to be "fellow workers" with God.

What is your life building in terms of eternity? Will
what you have built with your life still be standing when you enter into
Heaven? Or, will it all just be a smoky ruin?

Copyright © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com
View LinkedIn profile with endorsements at
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org