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Fire and Coals
Basilea Schlink
Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.
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In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a deep love for Jesus. This love is described as a consuming fire that forgives sins and transforms them into spiritual energy and strength. The speaker encourages listeners to bring their sins and sacrifices to Jesus, acknowledging them humbly and not making excuses. By doing so, the love for Jesus will continue to burn brightly in their hearts, giving them joy, power, and the ability to stand firm in the face of challenges. The sermon emphasizes the need to continually fuel this love for Jesus in order to live a fulfilling and impactful life.
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God lives and works today. To be filled with love for Him means to be filled with an invincible power and joy. How can we acquire such a love for Him? And how can we keep this love burning in our hearts? The answer is in today's meditation by Basilia Schlink called Fire and Coals. Love for Jesus is like a consuming fire. It continually needs fuel so that its flames will leap high, setting on fire everyone it encounters. First love, that is, as we read in Holy Scripture, brighter love for Jesus, is born out of forgiveness of sins. How could we help but love such a Savior and God who took such disgrace upon Himself and atoned for our sin through His crucifixion? Through Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. He gives us newness of life, a life with Him and for Him. Today, everything depends upon this love for Jesus. In the face of the frightening developments in the world and within Christianity, only those who are on fire with the first love for Jesus will be able to stand firm and not fall away. A natural fire is kept going by wood and coal. In this way, light and warmth are given forth, without which no one can live. The spiritual fire, that is, the love of God which has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, will be kept burning when we make two affirmations in our life. The first, when we say yes to our sins, metaphorically speaking, when we humbly acknowledge the black coal of our daily life and don't try to deny them or excuse ourselves. And the second, when we say yes to the cross we need so much, to the sacrifice, to the burden, metaphorically speaking, to the wood of our life. This is what we can continually bring to Jesus. Let's not keep our black sins to ourselves, but cast them into God's fire, and also the commitment to the small things that are hard, because I need it. Yes, whenever we cast our small sacrifices of love into the fire, the flames of our love will leap high. In this way, the amazing miracle takes place. Jesus not only forgives, He not only burns up our sins, but He changes our sins and our crosses into divine spiritual energy, into adoration, fire for His kingdom, love that longs to save others, powerful faith, authority, and strength to bear burdens. Jesus changes our sins into gain for us and for His kingdom. If you long for the love of Jesus to fill your life, bring Him the fuel that will keep the fire going. Whoever follows this course will become so rich, so happy, that he never again would want to choose any other way. No, never. Jesus, Lord, to love you only, I shall live for that alone. To your heart some comfort bringing, all your suffering making known. You've been listening to a program written by Basilia Schlenk of the Little Land of Canaan. If this program has been a help to you, we would be happy to send you a free leaflet by the same author. Please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.
Fire and Coals
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Basilea Schlink (1904 - 2001). German religious leader, writer, and co-founder of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, born Klara Schlink in Darmstadt to a professor of mechanics. Raised Lutheran, she studied at Fröbelseminar in Kassel (1923) and Berlin’s Inner Mission girls’ school (1924), later earning a doctorate in psychology from Hamburg University in 1934 with a thesis on adolescent faith struggles. From 1933 to 1935, she led the Women’s Division of the German Student Christian Movement, resisting Nazi exclusion of Jewish Christians. In 1947, with Erika Madauss, she founded the Sisterhood in Darmstadt, taking the name Mother Basilea, growing it to 209 sisters across 11 global branches by 2001. Schlink authored over 60 books, including My All for Him, translated into 60 languages, and published tracts in 90. Her radio programs aired in 23 languages, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation, especially between Germans and Jews. Unmarried, she dedicated her life to prayer and ministry, shaping interdenominational Christian communities.