Crumb #3
Jeremiah 20:9 (New International Version)
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
Growing up, I read the Bible for myself a total of 2 times. That is not counting the cohersed Bible memorization forced upon me by the Christian school I attented. (I'm glad for this now.) Nor is this taking into account the church services where I would mindlessly flip through the Bible passing the time. What I'm saying is that I can remember only two times when I, of my own accord, opened the Bible in my bedroom and "had devotions". The one time, I just came home from a revival meeting and something the evangelist said made me feel like Jesus was returning that night and I better "get caught" with my Bible in my hand. I read feverishly that evening hoping that I could make up for lost time. I think I made it through the better part of the New Testament before I collapsed on my bed spent.
Come to think of it, I don't remember the other time...I think I just said that because there had to be another time somewhere along the line that I can't recollect. It's sad really, but I can honestly say the Bible didn't take my breath away. (this could have something to do with the Old English King Jimmy Version verbage)
I remember hearing this verse for the first time at a conference. I don't ever remember hearing it before that moment. It felt like I memorized it the first time the speaker voiced it. It made sense to me and drew me in. I loved the word picture...probably because I'm a Pyro-at-heart. The intensity and the passion of the verse resonated with my spirit and I began the journey of developing that kind of relationship with the Scriptures...firey, expansive, explosive.
"His word is in my heart like a fire..." What a metaphor! It's like this wildfire inside that once ignited can't be contained or explained, confined or defined. Just like an out of control fire that surges across dry plains, the Word goes where it wills. It doesn't come to take sides, it comes to take over. There is this abiding sense of heat from just below the surface that's going to blow at any moment. Those who have been consumed by it know what I'm talking about.
"A fire shut up in my bones..." It sounds like the earliest mention of that modern day pipe bomb. It is a highly explosive substance bound up in a tight space wanting out. There is nothing as exhilerating as the anticipation. Sometimes I watch my daughters awaiting something that they are jacked up about and they can't stand it. Maybe this is where the bones thing comes into play. He's pacing back and forth with restless leg syndrome pregnant with the Word feeling the contractions of the Spirit. He's gotta give birth.
"I am weary of holding it in...indeed, I cannot." He comes to the conclusion that despite his best efforts, he cannot tame this firey Word from God. What must it be like to give in to the passion instead of domesticating it. Where have all the zealots gone who spoke with fire and fury. Who has extinguished the wildfire? I have witnessed precious few in my lifetime who shared the Word of God from this place. What would it be like to be so taken with the Word that by the time you open your mouth to share it you burst like a dam holding back a resevoir of pent of living water. It comes gushing forth. When people let God's Word have this kind of place inside of them, it can't help but breed an army of firey worshippers who love God's Word with a burning passion.
I so desire to have this kind of relationship with the Scriptures. And I want to speak from a place of dam-breaking, pipe-bomb-exploding passion that can't be stopped. The Unquenchable, Unstoppable fire of God's Word won't die until it's consumed the whole of me. I hereby give God access to plant his Word in my heart like a stick of dynamite. As the old preacher said, "When I preach, I just light myself on fire and let people watch me burn!" That's what I'm talking about!
9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
Growing up, I read the Bible for myself a total of 2 times. That is not counting the cohersed Bible memorization forced upon me by the Christian school I attented. (I'm glad for this now.) Nor is this taking into account the church services where I would mindlessly flip through the Bible passing the time. What I'm saying is that I can remember only two times when I, of my own accord, opened the Bible in my bedroom and "had devotions". The one time, I just came home from a revival meeting and something the evangelist said made me feel like Jesus was returning that night and I better "get caught" with my Bible in my hand. I read feverishly that evening hoping that I could make up for lost time. I think I made it through the better part of the New Testament before I collapsed on my bed spent.
Come to think of it, I don't remember the other time...I think I just said that because there had to be another time somewhere along the line that I can't recollect. It's sad really, but I can honestly say the Bible didn't take my breath away. (this could have something to do with the Old English King Jimmy Version verbage)
I remember hearing this verse for the first time at a conference. I don't ever remember hearing it before that moment. It felt like I memorized it the first time the speaker voiced it. It made sense to me and drew me in. I loved the word picture...probably because I'm a Pyro-at-heart. The intensity and the passion of the verse resonated with my spirit and I began the journey of developing that kind of relationship with the Scriptures...firey, expansive, explosive.
"His word is in my heart like a fire..." What a metaphor! It's like this wildfire inside that once ignited can't be contained or explained, confined or defined. Just like an out of control fire that surges across dry plains, the Word goes where it wills. It doesn't come to take sides, it comes to take over. There is this abiding sense of heat from just below the surface that's going to blow at any moment. Those who have been consumed by it know what I'm talking about.
"A fire shut up in my bones..." It sounds like the earliest mention of that modern day pipe bomb. It is a highly explosive substance bound up in a tight space wanting out. There is nothing as exhilerating as the anticipation. Sometimes I watch my daughters awaiting something that they are jacked up about and they can't stand it. Maybe this is where the bones thing comes into play. He's pacing back and forth with restless leg syndrome pregnant with the Word feeling the contractions of the Spirit. He's gotta give birth.
"I am weary of holding it in...indeed, I cannot." He comes to the conclusion that despite his best efforts, he cannot tame this firey Word from God. What must it be like to give in to the passion instead of domesticating it. Where have all the zealots gone who spoke with fire and fury. Who has extinguished the wildfire? I have witnessed precious few in my lifetime who shared the Word of God from this place. What would it be like to be so taken with the Word that by the time you open your mouth to share it you burst like a dam holding back a resevoir of pent of living water. It comes gushing forth. When people let God's Word have this kind of place inside of them, it can't help but breed an army of firey worshippers who love God's Word with a burning passion.
I so desire to have this kind of relationship with the Scriptures. And I want to speak from a place of dam-breaking, pipe-bomb-exploding passion that can't be stopped. The Unquenchable, Unstoppable fire of God's Word won't die until it's consumed the whole of me. I hereby give God access to plant his Word in my heart like a stick of dynamite. As the old preacher said, "When I preach, I just light myself on fire and let people watch me burn!" That's what I'm talking about!
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