Tongues of Fire

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. - Acts 2:1‭-‬4

“What seemed to be tongues of fire.” I’ve always wondered why fire? Why did Luke describe the holy Spirit in us as being like fire?

Fire lights up. Fire burns and consumes. Fire grabs anyone’s attention. I mean, the people took notice when God descended on Mount Sinai in fire. The mountain was lit up! This confirmed the validity of the old testament law given to them.

Or think about Elijah on Mount Carmel. He called down fire from heaven to destroy the alter to baal. The alter lit up, and the fire consumed. What a wonderful example of God’s consuming power!

And we know that God is light. Light of the world. He casts out darkness. When we follow him, we will never walk in darkness. He lights up our steps.

It starts to make sense, now, why Luke compares the Holy Spirit to tongues of fire that come to rest on us, huh?

When we accept Jesus into our lives, and make him our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to rest on us. And boy, does it burn! In a good way, that is.

God’s purifying presence burns away the undesirable elements of our lives. Why do you think we are ever changing and growing in him? God is making us pure.

God’s presence in us also ignites our hearts aflame. We love him. We want to worship him. To praise him. We start wanting to see his Will done over ours a little more each day!

And you know what? Others see it. They see the fire burning in us. Because we shine God’s light, and we’re bright as flames. We can ignite the lives of others. All because God ignites us by the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a special day. The Holy Spirit came down on the disciples fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after his ascension. It ignited the good work the disciples set out to do; spread the Word. It changes lives. It does you, and it does me.