Lesson From the Burning Bush by James A. Murray

 by James A. Murray, Senior Pastor at Abide Church in Sydney Australia

What made the burning bush attractive wasn’t the fire, but the fact that it was not consumed.  And what makes your passion for Jesus and His Church compelling isn’t your hustle or grind—it’s fire that doesn’t burn your out.  In times past, what often impressed people was a church or ministry leader’s ability to operate at an incredible pace and capacity.  The more you could grind, achieve, and succeed, the more you were admired and celebrated for relentless “kingdom advancement.” However, what time eventually revealed was that while things appeared successful on the outside, for many the health of their soul was slowly being consumed on the inside.  What looked like the attractive light of a church or ministry leader burning on was, in reality, the consuming fire of them burning out.   

Here is the truth:  Anyone can burn bright for Jesus and His Church for a short period of time.  But without a consistent, healthy, abiding relationship with Jesus; a life dependent on the Holy Spirit; burden-bearing relationships; and a sustainable rhythm of work, rest, and replenishment—everyone will eventually burn out!

Here is my point: What made the burning bush captivating to Moses was not that it was on fire, but that it was not consumed.  In the same way, what will make your passion for Jesus and His Church truly attractive is not hustle, grind, or striving, but a passion that burns brightly without consuming you—one that carries you rather than consumes you.  Church and ministry leaders, I implore you:  don’t become another statistic.  Yes, leading a church or ministry requires hard work and effort.  Some days will be more burdensome than others. Sacrifice is real, and the weight of responsibility is heavy.  But God never intended His fire to destroy the vessel He set apart to carry it.

Closing Thoughts: Seek to let your life and leadership reflect the miracle of the burning bush—set alight by God, sustained by His presence, and faithful over the long haul, not because you burned harder, but because you abided deeper!