Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The first time that coals of
fire are mentioned in the scriptures is found in the instruction of
the Lord to Aaron in making a sin offering for the people. And
he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off
the altar before the Lord, and he shall put the incense upon
the fire before the Lord. It is this sweet savor of this
offering which comes up unto the Lord in the behalf of His
people. Our great high priest did make that offering of a sweet
smell unto the Lord in our behalf. The intense heat of these coals
of fire pictures the sufferings of our Savior, who endured the
cross for the joy that was set before Him. We see that these
coals of fire, which denote the sufferings of Christ, were kindled
by him who will judge sin most harshly, neither clearing the
guilty nor quitting the wicked. The same one who wrote the law
is he who determined to send his only begotten son into the
world as a sin bearer, condemned by that same law. To declare,
I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Let no man think that
he shall escape condemnation for his sin, since God spared
not his own son, but made him who knew no sin to be sin for
us. When Isaiah was given his vision
of the Lord, he was struck down in repentance before the sight
of him whose glory overwhelmed him, so much that he cried out,
woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and
I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes
have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. The Lord would not
leave him in such a state. Thus he sent a seraphim with
a live coal from off the altar and laid it upon his lips. John
the baptizer testified to his disciples of the Redeemer, saying,
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. This
same fire is that which shall destroy the wicked, even as John
went on to testify. He will thoroughly purge his
floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff
he will burn with fire unquenchable. The Lord himself declared the
same. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch
and is withered, and men gather them and cast them into the fire,
and they are burned. Peter warmed himself in the courtyard
of the judgment hall, and the servants and officers stood there,
who had made a fire of coals, for it was hot, and they warmed
themselves, and Peter stood with them and warmed himself. Satan
had desired to sift Peter's wheat, yet the Lord prayed for him that
his faith would not fail. The Lord set this stage to teach
Peter that he could not stand in his own power, in spite of
his boastings that he would face death for the Lord. So we see
him warming himself by the same fire of coals as those unbelievers.
Yet the Lord meant this trial of Peter for a completely different
purpose, as Peter's warmth was soon turned to tears of sorrow,
and ultimately repentance, as he denied knowing the Lord three
times, the last with an oath. How foolish are men when they
trust in their own power. Yet the Lord made provision for
Peter and purged him, consuming his self-reliance in bitter tears
which flowed from Peter's eyes. Then we are brought to observe
a most comforting sight in John's gospel, as we behold the risen
Christ on the seashore, having prepared a meal for his weary
friends. They had toiled all night and had caught no fish
by their own endeavors. Yet when the Lord instructed
them where to cast the net, they brought in a multitude of fish.
Those fish in that net were appointed by Him to be caught, and not
one of them got away. In all of this we see the Lord's
provision for His disciples. For not only did He teach them
where to cast their net, but He prepared a meal of fish and
bread for them on a fire of coals. No doubt this was a welcome sight
to them, for here they were able to fellowship with the Lord,
to be fed by a meal which they did not prepare, and to warm
themselves by a fire of coals which they had not kindled. What
do we have that he has not provided for us? Perhaps the Lord kindled
his fire of coals specifically for Peter, to remind him of that
other fire of coals which he had recently warmed himself by.
Yet this was not unto Peter's condemnation, but rather to demonstrate
the mercy and kindness of the Lord as he is faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For it was here by this fire of coals that the Lord restored
Peter as he told him to feed my sheep. We see that brought
to fruition not many days hence on the day of Pentecost. Have
you seen this fire of coals which is handled by the Lord? Have
you eaten of that meal which he has prepared? For a free CD
containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to
forthepoor at windstream.net.