I grew up camping, and a big part of the camping experience is playing with fire! Is it just the engineer in me, or is this everyone’s experience?! Moving the firewood around to get it to burn efficiently makes me happy. Laying a new piece of wood in just the right spot shows skill. Getting the coals set for roasting hot dogs or marshmallows is a true camping art!
But there is one fire-related move that surpasses them all…fanning those roasting coals back into flames! There’s nothing like it. Just imagine it for a moment. Your family makes a fire, sets the coals, and roasts the marshmallows. Then everyone runs down to the lake for sunset. You’re the first one back after dark and the coals are all yours. You add some fresh firewood and arrange things just right. You grab a plate, frisbee, or other flame-resurrecting device nearby and start fanning at the base of the fire. You fan hard and fast for a few seconds. Then you pull back and watch the flames jump up off the coals. What a satisfying feeling as the warmth of the fire washes over you!
The Apostle Paul writes as a mentor to Timothy and draws on the flame-fanning metaphor to encourage him. He acknowledges Timothy’s sincere faith. And he encourages Timothy to fan the gift of God into flames in his life (2 Timothy 1:6).
Maybe you and I need the same encouragement today. Maybe we have sincere faith like Timothy. But maybe, like Timothy, we need a flame-fanning season in our spiritual life. Maybe there are gifts in us just waiting for a little fanning to burst into fervent flame. Maybe the prophetic words spoken over us just need a little fanning to come to life. Maybe now is the time we catch on fire for Jesus like never before.
In Acts chapter 2, Jesus’ followers were gathered together, there was a mighty rushing wind, flames of fire, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s follow their example. Let’s gather and look for what God wants to do. Let’s fan our flames! Let’s be filled with the Holy Spirit! And let’s live with purpose the life we are called to in our savior Jesus Christ.