51 Not long before it was time for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 53 But he was on his way to Jerusalem, so the people there refused to welcome him. 54 When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?” 55 But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said.[b]
Luke 9:51-55 (CEV)
Footnote: 9.55 what they had said: Some manuscripts add, “and said, ‘Don’t you know what spirit you belong to? The Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.’“
Pastor Ray referenced this incident in his sermon on Sunday, March 20. James and John took offense at their treatment by the Samaritans and offered a solution: Genocide. Are you surprised by their response? Was it a justifiable response? Is calling down fire (or bombs) ever justified? What do you think Jesus would say?
Tongue on Fire 
A prayer for today and every day:
God of reconciliation and peace,
We confess our inclination to hate our enemies and to seek their destruction. Like James and John, we pray for fire to fall from heaven to consume those who offend us and oppose us. Deliver us from evil—the evil within ourselves and the evil that is resident within those around us and leads us to destroy one another.
Today, we pray that you will send fire from heaven—not the fire of death and destruction, but Holy Spirit fire.
Send the fire to consume our desire for retribution.
Send the fire to melt our hearts of stone.
Send the fire to ignite our passion and our compassion.
Send the fire to touch our lips with the word of justice and peace.
Send the fire to fill us with the power to heal and restore.
Holy Spirit, rain down. How we need your touch again.
Amen.
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