Fire. It keeps us warm, makes us feel cheery, toasts marshmallows, and roasts hot dogs.
When we control a fire, we enjoy it. We often don’t enjoy it very much when someone else is controlling it: we don’t trust them to keep things from being or even just feeling destructive. Or just filling our eyes with burning smoke!
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is frequently represented as fire, tongues of flames. What God sets ablaze is often magnificent and glorious and fruitful.
But we also can fear having God’s fire set ablaze in us. We want to control how we “burn” for God. I mean what if we become passionate about what the Holy Spirit is doing in us? Yikes!
Do I trust God’s passion for me and in me?
Just Sayin' 