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Don’t be Lukewarm

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish that you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth […] as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3: 14 – 16, 19.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    After being seized by the Romans, the Apostle John was marched into a crowded coliseum and plunged into a vat of boiling oil.  But when he remained unharmed, the masses within the coliseum began to convert to Christianity.  The Romans, fearing his influence, placed him in prison on a deserted Island off the cost of Turkey (known as Patmos.) While in exile on this island, in about the year 95 A.D., an aging John received a revelation from Jesus Christ.  In this revelation, Jesus addressed the seven churches located in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  For some reason the Laodicean church had become lukewarm. They were once bold, zealous, and uncompromising; and yet over time they had succumb to personal comfort, complacency, and routine.  Jesus rebuked them; commanding them to obey His directives: to be zealous again; to be bold; to spread the gospel; to serve others and to work hard to save souls.  God’s message to the Laodiceans is timeless; it pertains directly to the church today.  There is no half-way; a moderate faith is a dead faith.  For the believer there are no vacations, no breaks, and no retirement.  We must all continue to serve God to the fullest. If we stop serving Him, we are in danger of becoming lukewarm, cold, and dead.

    Interestingly enough, a recent study revealed that early retirement can lead to an increased risk of death.  In 2005, three groups of otherwise healthy individuals were studied; those who retired at 55; those who retired at 60; and those who retired at 65.  “In this research, death was almost twice as likely in the first 10 years after retirement at age 55 compared with those who continued working.”  The tendency to take it easy and relax can have disastrous consequences.  To lose enthusiasm for God’s message is to fail to fulfill the highest calling of God.  As believers, we must fervently work for the Lord until He returns to gather us together.

    Are we eager to serve God and others today; or have we been serving ourselves?  Are we on fire for the Lord, or have we become cold?  Are we readily spreading the gospel, or have we fallen silent?  Have we faded into the background, or do we speak the truth with boldness?  We must be brave and reach out for Christ.  May our heart be ignited by the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit.  May the words of God flow from our mouths, and may our good works never cease; may God use us to transform others; and may we always represent the church of God with conviction and zeal.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our hearts may burn for You.  May we shine brightly in the lives of all those we meet.  Give us the words to speak and the strength to continue.  May we never grow weary or become lukewarm; may we never stop serving others, knowing that one day we will have our rest in You.  We love You Lord, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Loving Your Neighbor

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

   “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered him saying: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he looked upon him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and, and took care of him. The next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend when I come next time, I will repay you.’ So, which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10: 29 – 37.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    Samaria consisted of a population of pagan individuals dwelling within the borders of the nation of Israel (just north of Jerusalem); as non-Hebrews, they frequently engaged in immoral and idolatrous behaviors; for this reason, they were despised by the religious Israelites. In fact, many orthodox Jews, when traveling, would contemptuously journey around Samaria. After confirming the importance of loving one’s neighbor, Jesus was asked to define what constituted a neighbor. His reply came in the form of a story; in the narrative a man was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road; two religious Jews passed by, yet neither stopped to help (one was a priest and the other a supposed man of God.) Soon however, a Samaritan happened by, and his heart was filled with compassion. Seeking to preserve the man’s life, he gave of his time, his money, and his resources. He showed genuine mercy and astonishing generosity. Many today, like the priest and the Levite, are so concerned with what lies ahead that they fail to stop and assist those who are hurting and in need of assistance.
    Some time ago, during a cross-country meet in Minnesota, a young man named Mark Paulauskas was injured in the first half-mile of a two-mile race. He had been spiked by another runners’ cleats (a wound that would eventually require 20 stitches and a walking boot.) As Paulauskas cried out in agony, most of the other runners passed him by; they were more focused on the finish line than on the pain of a suffering opponent. Yet one individual heard his cries and was filled with compassion. A runner named Josh Ripley willingly abandoned his pursuit of victory so he could stop and help. Without hesitation he picked Mark up and carried him a half-mile back to the starting line. After committing his wounded competitor into the arms of the coaches, Josh Ripley sprinted off into the wilderness again; to complete his race. Although he didn’t win, he obtained a great victory in the eyes of God.
    Our fleshly nature commonly causes us to become so focused on what lies ahead that we ignore those who are right beside us. If we are not careful we can pass right by those who are hurting and ignore the call of God to ‘love our neighbor as ourselves.’ The world can be cold and apathetic; yet in the midst of indifference, there are those who are willing to display great compassion and mercy; they give selflessly; they love unconditionally; they listen to the Spirit of God; they are followers of Jesus Christ; they are Christians.
    “Lord Heavenly Father, may we always show sympathy toward those who are hurting and in need. May we be relieved of indifference and filled with mercy. May nothing ever be more important than genuine compassion, nor greater than Your divine love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we might be examples of Your affection in a world that has grown cold and apathetic. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Relying on God’s Power

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me this very night, for it is written:  ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”  Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you that this very night, before the rooster crows, you shall deny me three times.”  Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you” (Mathew 26: 31-35.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

   After rejecting Christ’s prophecy, Peter vainly exalted himself above the other disciples, saying, “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”  Despite his best efforts, he would go on to deny the Lord three times before morning.  To strengthen His followers, Jesus promised to eventually send a replacement; and after his resurrection and ascension, he fulfilled His commitment. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit.  Immediately after receiving God’s Spirit, Peter’s zeal was restored; prompting him to enter a crowded temple and boldly preach the gospel.  Leaning on his own strength, Peter had denied Christ three times; but relying on God’s power, he proclaimed Christ without fear.  Peter would go on to endure beatings, imprisonment, and even death for spreading Christ’s message.

   Peter shares his experience of divine empowerment with some other notable men of the bible.  While the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, a young Hebrew man named Moses believed it was his destiny to free his people.  One day he observed an Egyptian taskmaster beating one of his countrymen.  Filled with rage and a sense of duty, he killed the Egyptian.  In an effort to conceal his crime, he buried the body beneath the sand.  However, the body was quickly discovered, and a few days later, Moses’ life was in jeopardy.  Defeated and alone, he fled to the desert and became a shepherd; caring for livestock for decades.  At approximately 80 years old, God appeared to him and instructed him to return to Egypt to free his people.  He responded by proclaiming to God that he wasn’t ‘the right man for the job.’  He no longer believed he was capable of accomplishing the task.  A previously prideful and self-reliant young man had become an old man who realized his own weakness (apart from God); he was finally ready to be used by the Lord.  Relying on his own power, the young Moses hadn’t been able to bury even a single Egyptian.  But the mature Moses, utilizing God’s power, led his enslaved nation to freedom, and buried the entire Egyptian army beneath the waves of the red sea.

    Western culture often promotes self-reliance; but in divine culture reliance upon God is paramount.  Is there anything in your life that you are trying to accomplish on your own?  Are you struggling to endure a difficult trial unaided?  Our best efforts will never rival the works of God.  No matter how large the obstacle, or how great the need, if we humble ourselves, we can harness the power of the one true and living God. Only then will we be able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13.)

   “Lord Heavenly Father, You are an awesome and amazing God. Apart from You we are weak and insufficient.  Become our strength, that we might rely upon You instead of ourselves.  Give us victory over the things that cause us to stumble. Help us to stand firm, to endure, and to overcome.  May our hearts be humble and our lives filled with joy.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!