1 Thes. 5:19-22 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; [20] do not treat prophecies with contempt. [21] Test everything. Hold on to the good. [22] Avoid every kind of evil.

Sometimes you see in people that the spark of God has gone from their lives. You know how these people used to be - the phrase we would often use is to 'be on fire for Jesus' -but that flame has burned itself out. It is sad.

I wonder what we blame for that. I wonder what the person himself would say. But I wonder if it is because we lose touch with Jesus, with our faith communities and with our sense of mission. I think it comes down to a choice - we have to choose to keep feeding the flames of our spiritual lives. Keep a sense of prayer and devotion in our lives. Be a regular participant in the body of Christ. Find someway to live at the edge for Jesus. Because if we allow ourselves to be submerged in mediocrity we'll turn down the heat to that which is comfortable. The fire will not burn, but will be contained, then extinguished.