The Sacred Heart is displayed as a heart on fire. Jesus' heart is pictured as outside His body, aflame with His burning love. God's divine love is "a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29).
Many people are afraid of catching on fire with God's love. They intuitively realize that if they let themselves catch on fire with God's love, it will mean giving their entire life to Him. They envision themselves like candles set aflame with the love of God, becoming fully consumed to the point of burning down to nothing in His all-consuming fire. This is an incomplete picture of what it means to catch on fire with God's love.
There are other, more full images in Scripture of what it is like to catch on fire for God. The burning bush which attracted Moses was on fire, yet was not consumed (Ex 3:2-3). The bush did not "burn out," but instead attracted Moses to itself. If we let the Lord set us on fire with His love, we will radiate the love of God and not burn out (see Hos 11:9; Is 43:2).
In the Old Testament, people died when they approached God too closely (see e.g. 2 Sm 6:6-7). But in the New Testament, He calls us to approach Him intimately (see Heb 12:18-24). Don't be afraid God will ask too much. Be inflamed in the burning love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let it consume you.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, I am all Yours. Give me only Your love, and I will burn for You. |
| PROMISE: | "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." –1 Jn 4:16 |
| PRAISE: | Betty prays a daily prayer of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College