When god sends the fire

It’s not the sacrifice that carries the power—it’s the surrender.

📖 Scripture:

“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

🔥 Bible Study:

Consumed by Fire

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the fire of God.

How, in the Old Testament, He would consume the offerings laid before Him—sometimes instantly, dramatically, undeniably.

And I wonder...

What if it wasn’t just about the offering itself?

What if it wasn’t the sacrifice that held the power—

but the Surrender?

What if, in burning it up, God was reminding them, reminding us—

“It’s not in the offering. It’s in Me.”

We get so caught up in what we bring to the altar.

Our prayers.

Our tears.

Our sacrifices.

Our shame.

Our obedience.

And we want it to mean something.

We want it to be enough.

We want it to work.

But maybe the fire came—not as a sign of acceptance alone,

but as a declaration:

The offering isn’t your power. I am.

You see, He didn’t need their grain, their animals, or their burnt offerings.

He asked for them to teach surrender.

To test hearts.

To reveal trust.

And when their hearts were bowed before Him in obedience—

He sent fire from heaven.

Not to destroy, but to complete the moment.

To say, “Now watch what I can do when you give Me everything.”

Sometimes, we bring things to God expecting Him to bless the offering.

But He may consume it instead.

He may strip it away.

He may break it down.

Not because it wasn’t good—

but because He wants us to know:

The blessing isn’t in the sacrifice.

It’s in the surrender.

It’s in Him.

There is something holy about saying,

“God, I brought this because You asked.

Now I leave it in Your hands.

Do what You will.”

That’s when the fire falls.

That’s when transformation happens.

That’s when we stop trying to earn favor—

and start walking in faith.

So bring your offering.

Bring your worship.

Bring your whole heart.

But don’t hold on too tightly.

Let God have it all.

Let Him consume what needs to be consumed.

Let Him refine what needs to stay.

And remember:

**The fire isn’t to harm you—

It’s to show you that the power never lived in the sacrifice.

It lives in the God who receives it.**

💭 Reflection Question:

Where in your life is God asking you to surrender—not just offer—something to Him?

🙏 Prayer:

Lord, I bring You what I have, but I don’t want to trust in the offering—I want to trust in You. Teach me what true surrender looks like. Consume what needs to be consumed. Refine what needs to remain. And help me remember that Your fire is never meant to harm me, but to draw me into deeper dependence on You. Amen.

🗓️ Practical Step:

Today, write down one thing you’ve been trying to control or “offer” to God on your own terms.

Then pray, “Lord, I surrender this fully to You. Do what You will.”

Leave it. Walk away from the altar. Trust Him.

💌 Invite a Friend:

If this encouraged you, forward it to someone who needs the reminder:

The power isn’t in what we give—it’s in the God who receives it.