Keep the Fire Burning | Worship, Part 10
Key Truth | Every generation must decide whether the fire becomes a memory or an inheritance. We keep the fire burning by living lives of wholehearted worship, because Jesus is worthy—yesterday, today, and forever.
Key Scripture | “And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out… The fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.” — Leviticus 6:12–13 NKJV
Forty years.
When I think about everything God has done at Opendoor over the past four decades, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. Lives have been transformed, families restored, marriages healed, and countless people have encountered the life-changing presence of Jesus. Generations have been saved, discipled, and sent out to impact the world for His Kingdom. Every story is a testimony to the unwavering faithfulness of God.
But anniversaries aren't only about looking back with gratitude. They're also about looking forward with responsibility.
As I've reflected on these forty years, one question has continued to stir in my heart:
What will the next generation inherit from us?
Will they inherit beautiful buildings, meaningful traditions, and familiar songs? Or will they inherit something far greater—a people who genuinely love the presence of God?
Will they remember that we talked about worship? Or will they remember that we lived it?
In Leviticus, God gave the priests a simple but profound command: "The fire on the altar shall always be burning; it shall never go out." Every morning they added fresh wood and tended the fire. Not because God was unable to send fire again, but because what He had ignited was now their responsibility to steward.
I believe that same principle applies to us today.
Forty years ago, God lit a fire in this house. He raised up men and women who loved His presence, worshiped without shame, and cared more about honoring Jesus than protecting their image. They understood that the presence of God changes everything, and that passion became woven into the DNA of Opendoor.
Now that fire has been entrusted to us.
Our calling isn't simply to admire what previous generations experienced. It's to faithfully tend the fire we've inherited. Because every generation must decide whether the fire becomes a memory...or an inheritance.
No one can worship for the next generation. We can't manufacture hunger for God's presence in someone else's heart. But we can show them what Jesus is worth to us. Children learn what matters by watching what captures the hearts of their parents. New believers discover what worship looks like by observing mature believers who genuinely delight in God's presence.
People rarely imitate what we merely say. They imitate what we consistently live.
That's why this series has never really been about lifted hands, bowed knees, or any particular outward expression. It's been about something much deeper—a heart completely captivated by Jesus.
Over these past weeks we've been reminded that the Father is still seeking worshipers, that worship begins where self-consciousness ends, and that our lives are lived before an Audience of One. We've discovered that worship costs something because Jesus is worthy of everything, that He desires our whole being, and that what happens in the secret place shapes what happens in the public place. We've learned to worship before the breakthrough, to behold Christ until we become more like Him, and ultimately to anchor our worship not in changing circumstances but in the unchanging worth of Jesus.
All of it leads us here.
The future.
The next forty years.
My prayer is that years from now, when people walk through the doors of Opendoor, they won't be most impressed by our buildings, our technology, or even our music. I pray they'll encounter something that cannot be manufactured—a people whose love for Jesus is unmistakable. A people who are free, surrendered, and still filled with wonder at the goodness of God.
May our children grow up watching fathers and mothers who genuinely worship. May our grandchildren inherit songs that point them to Christ and lives that back those songs up. May every campus, every ministry, every classroom, every prayer gathering, and every worship service be marked by the presence of God.
And may no one ever need to convince us that Jesus is worthy.
Because we've already settled that question.
One day, our worship on earth will give way to the worship of heaven. Faith will become sight, every distraction will disappear, and believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation will gather around the throne with one voice declaring,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain."
Until that day...
Let's keep the fire burning.
Not for our reputation.
Not for our traditions.
Not even for our history.
But for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Because He is worthy.
And He always will be.
Today, make a fresh commitment to tend the fire. Whether you've walked with Jesus for decades or have only recently begun following Him, choose to pursue His presence daily. Don't simply celebrate what God has done in the past—be part of what He desires to do in the future.
Reflection |Take a few moments to think about the legacy your life is leaving. If someone learned what worship looked like by watching you, what would they see? What kind of spiritual inheritance are you passing on to your family, your friends, and the next generation?
Prayer | Father, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season and for every person who has faithfully stewarded the vision and worship of this house over the past forty years. Because of their obedience, we've inherited a rich legacy. Help us steward it well.
Keep our hearts tender before You, and guard us from becoming comfortable, distracted, or so familiar with Your blessings that we lose our wonder. Raise up children, students, young adults, parents, and grandparents who love You with all their hearts. May our worship always point people to Jesus, and may our lives declare that He alone is worthy. Let the fire You've ignited in this house continue to burn brightly until the day we join heaven's song around Your throne. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
Additional Scriptures
Key Scripture | “And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out… The fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.” — Leviticus 6:12–13 NKJV
Forty years.
When I think about everything God has done at Opendoor over the past four decades, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. Lives have been transformed, families restored, marriages healed, and countless people have encountered the life-changing presence of Jesus. Generations have been saved, discipled, and sent out to impact the world for His Kingdom. Every story is a testimony to the unwavering faithfulness of God.
But anniversaries aren't only about looking back with gratitude. They're also about looking forward with responsibility.
As I've reflected on these forty years, one question has continued to stir in my heart:
What will the next generation inherit from us?
Will they inherit beautiful buildings, meaningful traditions, and familiar songs? Or will they inherit something far greater—a people who genuinely love the presence of God?
Will they remember that we talked about worship? Or will they remember that we lived it?
In Leviticus, God gave the priests a simple but profound command: "The fire on the altar shall always be burning; it shall never go out." Every morning they added fresh wood and tended the fire. Not because God was unable to send fire again, but because what He had ignited was now their responsibility to steward.
I believe that same principle applies to us today.
Forty years ago, God lit a fire in this house. He raised up men and women who loved His presence, worshiped without shame, and cared more about honoring Jesus than protecting their image. They understood that the presence of God changes everything, and that passion became woven into the DNA of Opendoor.
Now that fire has been entrusted to us.
Our calling isn't simply to admire what previous generations experienced. It's to faithfully tend the fire we've inherited. Because every generation must decide whether the fire becomes a memory...or an inheritance.
No one can worship for the next generation. We can't manufacture hunger for God's presence in someone else's heart. But we can show them what Jesus is worth to us. Children learn what matters by watching what captures the hearts of their parents. New believers discover what worship looks like by observing mature believers who genuinely delight in God's presence.
People rarely imitate what we merely say. They imitate what we consistently live.
That's why this series has never really been about lifted hands, bowed knees, or any particular outward expression. It's been about something much deeper—a heart completely captivated by Jesus.
Over these past weeks we've been reminded that the Father is still seeking worshipers, that worship begins where self-consciousness ends, and that our lives are lived before an Audience of One. We've discovered that worship costs something because Jesus is worthy of everything, that He desires our whole being, and that what happens in the secret place shapes what happens in the public place. We've learned to worship before the breakthrough, to behold Christ until we become more like Him, and ultimately to anchor our worship not in changing circumstances but in the unchanging worth of Jesus.
All of it leads us here.
The future.
The next forty years.
My prayer is that years from now, when people walk through the doors of Opendoor, they won't be most impressed by our buildings, our technology, or even our music. I pray they'll encounter something that cannot be manufactured—a people whose love for Jesus is unmistakable. A people who are free, surrendered, and still filled with wonder at the goodness of God.
May our children grow up watching fathers and mothers who genuinely worship. May our grandchildren inherit songs that point them to Christ and lives that back those songs up. May every campus, every ministry, every classroom, every prayer gathering, and every worship service be marked by the presence of God.
And may no one ever need to convince us that Jesus is worthy.
Because we've already settled that question.
One day, our worship on earth will give way to the worship of heaven. Faith will become sight, every distraction will disappear, and believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation will gather around the throne with one voice declaring,
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain."
Until that day...
Let's keep the fire burning.
Not for our reputation.
Not for our traditions.
Not even for our history.
But for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Because He is worthy.
And He always will be.
Today, make a fresh commitment to tend the fire. Whether you've walked with Jesus for decades or have only recently begun following Him, choose to pursue His presence daily. Don't simply celebrate what God has done in the past—be part of what He desires to do in the future.
Reflection |Take a few moments to think about the legacy your life is leaving. If someone learned what worship looked like by watching you, what would they see? What kind of spiritual inheritance are you passing on to your family, your friends, and the next generation?
Prayer | Father, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season and for every person who has faithfully stewarded the vision and worship of this house over the past forty years. Because of their obedience, we've inherited a rich legacy. Help us steward it well.
Keep our hearts tender before You, and guard us from becoming comfortable, distracted, or so familiar with Your blessings that we lose our wonder. Raise up children, students, young adults, parents, and grandparents who love You with all their hearts. May our worship always point people to Jesus, and may our lives declare that He alone is worthy. Let the fire You've ignited in this house continue to burn brightly until the day we join heaven's song around Your throne. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
Additional Scriptures
- Leviticus 6:12–13
- Deuteronomy 6:4–9
- Psalm 78:1–7
- Psalm 145:1–7
- Hebrews 12:28–29
- Revelation 4:8–11
- Revelation 5:9–14
- John 4:23–24
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments what God is speaking to you as you read these devotionals. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our devotional emails right to your inbox, hit the subscribe button below and invite your family and friends to subscribe as well! Thank you for being a part of our Opendoor Devotional Community. We appreciate you!
No Comments