“Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,” ELW 395, v. 3
3 Come, holy Fire, comfort true,
grant us the will your work to do
and in your service to abide;
let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by your pow'r prepare each heart
and to our weakness strength impart,
that bravely here we may contend,
through life and death to you, our Lord, ascend.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Devotion
The words, "Come, holy Fire" conjure up dramatic images of extraordinary works being accomplished by the fire of the Holy Spirit. They would provide for wonderful show and tell stories.
Instead, it is in the daily, ordinariness of life that the fire of the Holy Spirit comes to work in us. Come, holy Fire, that we may have the will to continue on in God's work and abide in service to God and God's people. Come, holy Fire, that in the midst of trials, we may be kept faithful and not give up. Come, holy Fire, that in our weakness we are given strength in the power of God.
One day, a friend came to me as holy Fire. He asked three basic questions: 1) What have you done for fun lately? 2) What have you read lately? and 3) Do you pray every day? The conversation that followed returned me to tend again to the basic, ordinary stuff of faith and ministry.
Prayer
O God, send your holy Fire that I may tend to the home fires of family relationships and the home fires of faith-worship, prayer, Bible reading and service. Amen.