Your Spiritual Spark

For today's blog thursday post we will be looking at the spiritual and literal definiton of a spark. We will also be digging deeper into various biblical passages that show us the role of a spark in our Christian walk.

What is a spark?

In the context of brain activity, the neurological equivalent of a spark would be connections, between ideas or memories, forming in a new way. As a result of this, a spark will often have an emotional charge as it activates the brain's dopamine system; rewarding you for discovering something new or meaningful. In the context of light, a spark is a tiny explosion of energy caused by electricity or intense heat. In its most simplest and common form, a spark is a sudden ignition of thought, inspiration or understanding.

Explanation of spark in relation to spiritual life

The spark, in our spiritual journey, can be seen as our salvation and this spark is caused by a triggering event e.g a sermon, a conversation, a song, an object or image. This spark, our salvation, then compels you to act. We know this as it says in James 2:17 that faith that does not result in actions is dead. Therefore, the spark, our salvation, should produce a fire, an action, yet the spark, our salvation, isn't caused by something within us it is caused by something external - God's love and righteousness. Sometimes as Christians we have the misconception that the spark is the revelation when in reality the spark is the gate to revelation. It's our salvation that compels us to study the word of God leading us to have prophetic messages or personal encounters with the Holy Spirit which then leads us to act. Yet, we should acknowledge that we can't force a spark whether it be for ourselves or others but we can ensure that we are in spaces that allow for the opportunity for a spark to develop or spaces that accommodate a triggering event.

The best example of such a space would be a church as it accommodates for a spark, then when the spark ignites a fire and then a wildfire too, the wildfire being revival. In order for this to happen though, we need to position ourselves in environments where sparks are welcomed and attracted too.

Biblical passages supporting the role of a spark in spiritual life

In Acts 9:3-4 it says suddenly a light shone around Paul from heaven, then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" The audible voice of Jesus acted as the spark for Paul as it compelled him to act. We see by verse 8, Paul obeyed the voice of Jesus and picked himself off the ground and went into the city of Damascus and by verse 20 the spark ignited a fire in Paul as he started preaching about Jesus in the synagogue. The wildfire, revival, for Paul was when his mission of spreading the gospel reached across Europe, Africa and Asia. Another example of a spark is found in Jeremiah 33:3 where it states "call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know". Calling upon God would be the spark which would lead to revelation of things unknown. The revelation of the unknown, as a Christian, should then produce an action. For Jeremiah, the action was preaching repentance to the Jews.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that for those who haven't had a spark they would have an awakening that stirs up so much curiosity that it leads them to you word. May those who have already experienced a spark produce a fire that's unstoppable and perserved until their last breath. In Jesus name, Amen.