God's Holy Fire: 'The Spirit's Work of Love'

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

[Epaphras is] the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit.
— Colossians 1:8 MSG

Key Thought

Epaphras had told Paul about the Colossians' growth in Jesus. One vital element of this growth was their love for each other. Paul recognized that the power of the Holy Spirit is what had inspired, empowered, and worked this love into the fabric of their daily lives. The Spirit empowers God's character to be formed in us (Romans 5:1-5). We sometimes call this character the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as the Spirit works to form Christ in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). Therefore, let's daily invite the Spirit into our lives to do his transformational work so that the influence of God's Holy Presence shows up in the way we feel about each other and treat each other.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I yield my heart to be molded by the work of your Holy Presence, the Spirit. I want to be conformed to the character and compassion of Jesus. However, I know for this transformation to happen fully, I desperately need the holy fire of your Spirit to empower my changes into a full likeness of Christ. Burn away what is false and selfish. Fuel in me a holy desire to be conformed to your holy character and gracious compassion. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Connections
Devo: Together in Christ
"You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ's faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has..."
Harvesting Faith, Hope, Love
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thank you for the fruit your Word is bearing throughout the whole world. Thank you that this..."
You Don't Have to Have an Apostle
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, I appointed My apostles as My emissaries to the world. I commissioned them to take My message everywhere to everyone. The original..."

Illustration

Illustration of Colossians 1:8 MSG — [Epaphras is] the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'A Cry for Help and Health' (Ps. 30:2-4)
"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Luke 19:40
"But could the stones cry out? Assuredly they could if he who opens the mouth of the dumb should bid them lift up their voice. Certainly if they were....."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'The One Foundation' (1 Co. 3:9-13)
"Dear Father, designer of destiny, Thank you for your concern for us. We are the field that you tend, the building that you build. You build us as..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Are You Ready?'
"Dear Beloved, Are you ready? That's a question that could be asked about so many things that are a normal part of life — things like marriage,..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations