Leviticus 6:13 –  ^“Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”

Today, as I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God, three words arose in my thoughts.  Those words were fire, tolerance, and power.  At first, I thought they were unconnected, but the Holy Spirit connected the dots.

In Leviticus 6:13, we read that the fire must perpetually be burning on the altar.  

• The fire purifies the sacrifice. 
• The fire of God in us purifies us. 
• The fire causes the dross to rise to the surface, and the ashes of self can be removed. 
• The fire of God, unlike natural fire, does not destroy but purifies. 
• The fire is vital.

In 1 Corinthians 5, we have the account of the incestuous relationship and the church tolerating it and apparently boasting of their tolerance (they called it love).   In verse 6, Paul says, “Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”  

God’s power is not in itself a sign of man’s purity.  However, the absence of God’s power is an indication that we may have let the fire die out or need to be rekindled on the altar.  If we live in misguided tolerance and allow abominations to continue unchecked and unchallenged in the local body of which we are a part, we harm the body, the lost, and the guilty one.

Allowing abominations to exist unaddressed is not love; it is misguided and misapplied tolerance that taints the entire body.   Yes, God and we are to love them.   However, if they profess to be believers and live sexually immoral lives, we are commanded to address it.  Read 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.  This is not an opinion; it is Scripture.

• The fire of God brings conviction.  
• The judgmentalism of the Pharisees brings division and resistance.  
• The fire of love operating in power brings conviction.

Being a good person is not the qualifier for heaven; it is obedience, faith, repentance, and surrender.  For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.

We need the fire to purify and the power to equip.  If we drift into a humanistic view of love and tolerance, we will allow and justify abominations among believers, and the message to the lost becomes anything goes.  God is love, but also Holy.  God is long-suffering and patient.  He put up with us and puts up with us in extreme patience, but He never justifies or excuses rebellion.  The fire of God produces the power of God.   Misguided and misapplied tolerance puts that fire out and steals the power.

Dealing with sin in others can only effectively be done after dealing with sin in us.  It must always be out of the aim, goal, purpose, and motive of restoration.  Judgmentalism is rooted in self-righteousness.  Love seeks restoration, regardless of how painful the process may be.

Lord, send your fire, release your power, and give us the spiritual insight to know the destructiveness of inappropriate tolerance that justifies and excuses sin.  Preach hell with a broken heart.  Preach heaven with joy.

LORD, let Your fire burn in our hearts and help us to embrace Your love and be lovers of others!