Deceived by God - appropriate response

Jesus served people while here. He already understood what you have come to know. We can not change people or situations. We can change ourselves (again by letting God) and our response to things or other people. God can then use our changed self to influence others. I think of Paul's statement to imitate him as he imitated Christ Jesus. We need to let God change us into people to be imitated. The song "It Only Takes a Spark" lends itself to this idea. If we are truly changed (different from the world) people, we will be receptive to the spark. Just remember, the spark only ignites the kindling and a lot of the time the kindling has to be fanned to get the rest of the wood burning.

I think a lot of times we worry too much about whether the fire will burn (offend) someone instead of "Igniting" them for good. If you analyze the fire, it is not the wood actually burning. The heat from the fire transforms the wood into a gas that burns. The heat changes the wood into fuel, and eventually uses up the wood, but before being totally used up it is turned into the heat producer (ember or coal) that will help sustain the fire for more wood to be added and continue the cycle. The fire only dies when no "New" wood is added.

How did Jesus build the fire? He served people (producing kindling). He challenged people's thinking (the spark). He died (fanning the flame) and rose again appearing to the 11(new wood added). He ascended and sent the Holy Spirit (to provide a way for wood to continue to be added).

Throughout time the fire has grown and weakened, but never gone out. We seem to be in a weakened time but the fire will not go out. Let us take heart that it does not depend on our "feeble" efforts to keep it burning. God is the fire tender.