Are you a burning and shining lamp?

Jesus said of John the Baptist, "He was the burning and shining lamp." (John 5:35) Wow! I wonder what Jesus would say of us? Is the church today thought of as a burning and shining lamp, ablaze for the glory of God, or as some kind of social club that is trying desperately to be like the world?

Amy Carmichael had a passion to be ablaze with the fire of God and to bring the light of Christ into the heart of the darkness. She was a missionary to India. She was a radical for Christ. She rescued many young girls from Hindu temple prostitution. She was not seeking comfort zone "Christianity". Listen to her heart cry:

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
---------Amy Wilson Carmichael

Lord set us on fire, and use us Lord to spread your fire!