What an odd coincidence (if you believe in that sort of thing) in today's readings. In 2 Chronicles, we have the story of Solomon building a temple for the glory of God, and when he finished building it all exactly as God commanded, after he prayed diligently for the power and presence of God to come on the people of God, we read this in verses 1-3.
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
The fire fell and the glory of God came down on the Temple of the Living God. God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed him and served his purposes.
Then we read Acts 2, where on the day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered in an upper room praying and waiting for the Spirit Jesus had promised to them. Verses 1-4 describe what happened.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The fire fell, this time in the form of a tongue, and the glory of God (the Spirit of God) came down on the Temple of the Living God (we are the Temple of God now, are we not?). God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed his Great Commission and served his purpose to go into all the World.
Oh, that God would write episode 3 on our hearts today! May the fire would fall on us, purifying us and kindling our zeal for him and his kingdom. May the glory of God that dwells within us, the Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on us. May we be renewed by the Spirit, filled for the work that God has for us, empowered to be conformed to the image of Christ, enlightened and purified by the Word, and encouraged and strengthened in all that we face in this world. As the fire fell on Solomon's temple and on the church of Jesus Christ, may it fall on us. As the glory of the Lord filled the temple and the Spirit of the Lord filled the people, may we be so full of Christ's Spirit that people see Jesus in us!
Father, may the fire of your Spirit fall on us anew today. Break us, melt us, mold us, fill us! Use us for your kingdom and the glory of your name.
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