Fence Sitters

Revelation 3:14-22 KJV You who are lukewarm; get off the fence and proclaim the Good News of salvation through Jesus the Christ.

Getting Old

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. (Prov 16:31 KJV)

All is well with my soul and pretty much my body! What can you expect when you begin to age 😊 For some reason I don't have a lot of gray hair yet. Both of my sons have at least as much if not more. But, I am aging. My doctor is quite diligent in making sure I am healthy. My annual check ups usually include a lot of follow up tests!

I was on the road at 4 a.m. this morning. And, that is why I am so late writing this. Howard drove since I was having a minor surgery that I had to be put to sleep for and I was not able to drive afterwards. Everything went as expected. The surgeon let Howard know that "all is well." I figured it was. God has been very good to me. I don't always take too good care of myself; though, so along with my gray hairs my body inevitably is slowly but sure deteriorating - just as we all do.

I won't be doing much for the next couple of weeks. Every time I've gone out in the yard this afternoon, I've wanted to pick up the rake and clean the pond. Oh... it is so hard not to be doing something!

Hopefully, tomorrow morning I will get hot and get a blog done in a half way decent hour - like the early morning 😊

Don't worry about those gray hairs! Each gray hair; each day brings us closer to seeing the full glory of our Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Spit Out Of His Mouth

"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." (Rev 3:14-16 NIV)

A good percentage of the church on earth appears to be quite lukewarm; neither openly denying Christ or openly affirming Christ. There are way too many who confess that they are Christians on Sunday morning or in any Christian gathering of people. But, when it comes to witnessing to those who do not know Jesus; the church becomes pretty quiet. Yes, of course, there are all those television evangelists who make mega-bucks for their proclamation. But, then there is also the question regarding what they are really proclaiming. Do they proclaim that in order to be followers of Jesus we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him? (Matt 16:24) Does our message include the fact that the road Jesus took here on earth was not one of self-indulgence; but, of a homeless man (Matt 8:19-20) who endured much persecution (John 15:20) and then went to his execution (Matt 27:32-37) for speaking the truth. 

There are way too many who profess to be Christians who really are not ready or willing to get off the fence and follow Jesus. They are afraid for their hearts to be on fire for Jesus. It might mean they have to focus on the Kingdom of God rather than the material things of this world. It will mean persecution. (2 Tim 3:12) 

God did not push the people of Laodicea off of the fence. He warned them and he warns us that if we do not want to be spit out of his mouth, we need to get off of the fence. 

May our hearts be set on fire for the Lord Jesus!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proclaim The Gospel With Spiritual Fervor

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:10-11 NIV

As I grow older, I find myself pondering more and more about the time that I have wasted not being zealous in serving the Lord. We have been studying Paul's letter to the Romans in Bible Study on Sunday mornings. St. Paul's zealousness never fails to amaze me. And, even as his spiritual fervor amazes me; my past lack of it leaves me wondering how I or anyone who confesses Jesus could possibly be less enthusiastic about the Good News than he. No matter what trials or tribulations St. Paul endured; he did not become less ardent in his proclamation, he became bolder. Why then can we who suffer so little in comparison to the many who have given their life for the Gospel of Jesus be so lukewarm?

I wake up each morning completely aware of how lukewarm Christianity has become in so many churches; in so many homes. In the vision of St. John on Patmos, the angel of the Lord told him to warn the people of Laodicea:  "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16)   

The church in many parts of this earth has become lukewarm. We are without spiritual fervor, except maybe on Sunday mornings. Often, during the rest of the week, our ego-driven false gods take center stage. Christianity is more than a Sunday morning ritual. It is a way of life. It is a way of being.

May God help us to be zealous in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord so that others may hear and believe.

God's Peace - Pr. J