Neither Hot Nor Cold

Scripture:

Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Devotional:

Have you ever taken a drink of ice tea only to have it lukewarm and tepid as you drink?  Or have you ever taken a drink of coffee only to have it mediocre at best not hot or cold just blah?   Few things are worse than getting a glass of nice cold milk only to find that it is at room temperature, yuck.  There are so called Christians who are just that, lukewarm.  They are neither hot nor cold but just sit on the fence tepid and lukewarm. 

What is it to be hot or cold?  Think of hot water to sooth you in a bath, or to clean dirty dishes with.  Hot water can be used to make a nice cup of hot tea.  Just add ice and you get a great cup of ice tea. Ice-cold water is refreshing to drink on a hot sunny day.  Cold water is great to cool down with.  It is good to be either hot or cold.  Being lukewarm is another matter.

Some of us start off strong but peter-out and never finish what we start.  Too often we as Christians sit on the sidelines thinking that someone else can do it.  We think that someday we will get around to it.  The problem is I have never found a round to-it.  Tomorrow never comes and things don’t get done.  We are neither hot nor cold but just mediocre.  Jesus warns us not to be mediocre.  He implores us to repent.  He is knocking on our doors seeking to come in.  But He will not intrude or force himself.  He will politely wait until we invite Him in.  It is time that we warm up and set our hearts on fire for Christ.  We cannot wait for someone else to get to it for us.  God is calling us to action.  He is asking us not to just be that Sunday Christian who only goes to church but fails to have a meaningful relationship with Him. 

Take inventory of your life.  Ask yourself if you are lukewarm, hot, or cold.  Don’t just give a brief thought.  Take a few minutes, or more, to really think about your relationship with Jesus.  You cannot afford to be that room temperature glass of milk or tea.  It is not healthy for you to be that lukewarm cup of coffee or hot chocolate.  Instead make yourself become that piping hot cup.  Look into what interests you.  What is that gets your blood pumping just thinking about it?  Once you discover what that is start looking how you can use it to Glorify God.  How can you take what you are passionate about and use it to reach others?  When we find what we are passionate about and use it we can become a Christian on fire for Christ…

Persevering or Falling Away?

Persevering, or Falling Away?

Scripture:
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Devotional:

Even though it can be hard we must keep our faith.  Even though those around us don’t we must persevere and stay strong in our faith.   We can be like the church in Philadelphia or we can be like the unfaithful so called Jews.  

What does your faith look like?  Have you stood in front of the mirror and examined yourself lately?  What is it that you see when you look at your inner self?  There are times when I think I got it right.  My faith seems strong and unwavering.  I feel that I am on top of the world.  Then there are times when I feel unconnected with God.  Times that God feels far away.  The truth is that God hasn’t moved.  He is still right there.  We are the ones who have drifted.  Maybe we have unconfessed sin in our lives.  It could be that we become complacent and self-secure in ourselves.  There are many reasons we might feel disconnected from God.  Regardless of the reason God is there waiting for us to turn around.  He never leaves or fails us.  We can persevere and rekindle our faith.  

Don’t live a life of lies.  Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you are good enough, or that because of how you live your life you will be saved.  The scriptures are clear there is only one way to eternal life in Heaven. It is through Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 (NASB), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”  John 14:6 (NASB), “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  It is clear Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Any other way is just deception.  You can be life the so called Jews who are living a lie.  The other option is to persevere and live your life in Christ.  The truth shall set you free.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Only through Him can we be made righteous and through Him no one can overcome us.  Is your name in the book of life?

Persevering or Falling Away?

Scripture:
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Devotional:

Even though it can be hard we must keep our faith.  Even though those around us don’t we must persevere and stay strong in our faith.   We can be like the church in Philadelphia or we can be like the unfaithful so called Jews.  

What does your faith look like?  Have you stood in front of the mirror and examined yourself lately?  What is it that you see when you look at your inner self?  There are times when I think I got it right.  My faith seems strong and unwavering.  I feel that I am on top of the world.  Then there are times when I feel unconnected with God.  Times that God feels far away.  The truth is that God hasn’t moved.  He is still right there.  We are the ones who have drifted.  Maybe we have unconfessed sin in our lives.  It could be that we become complacent and self-secure in ourselves.  There are many reasons we might feel disconnected from God.  Regardless of the reason God is there waiting for us to turn around.  He never leaves or fails us.  We can persevere and rekindle our faith.  

Don’t live a life of lies.  Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you are good enough, or that because of how you live your life you will be saved.  The scriptures are clear there is only one way to eternal life in Heaven. It is through Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 (NASB), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”  John 14:6 (NASB), “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  It is clear Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Any other way is just deception.  You can be life the so called Jews who are living a lie.  The other option is to persevere and live your life in Christ.  The truth shall set you free.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Only through Him can we be made righteous and through Him no one can overcome us.  Is your name in the book of life?