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Flip the Switch

Every day we wake up we have a choice to make.  We can leave the switch in the middle, flip it to cold, or flip it to hot.  Now in the middle, you slack off a little at work or in school, just sort of go through the motions of your workout, and you're in the room with your family in the evening but you're paying attention to your phone or TV.

If you flip it to cold, you may call in to work or just totally check out and be unproductive once you're there, you skip the gym, and when your family is home to spend time together you remember "urgent" errands you need to go out and run so you take off.

Or you can flip your switch to hot.  You get to work or school early (or at least on time) and work or study hard, you push yourself and encourage those around you in the gym, and when the family is home you're talking, interacting, sharing stories about your day, and maybe even enjoying some laughs.

I think just looking at these analogies we would all say that we want to be hot.  But if we truly examine our actions, are we?  Or are we like the people James was addressing in Chapter 2 who claim to have faith but produce no works? We talk a good game, but are we playing one.  No, works are not how you earn your way to heaven, but they are the outward expression of your internal saving faith.  Your passion or drive is what fuels you from the inside to produce outer works, to be productive in your job, to keep yourself in shape, to love and take care of your family, and to live a Christian life. 

To modify the coffee analogy from War Room (if you haven't seen it, go do so), let's apply it to pizza.  Now I know some people like it cold, leftover, straight out of the fridge, others like it hot and fresh, but no one really likes their pizza room temperature after it's been sitting around a couple hours.  God is the same way.  We are living hot or cold lives for Him, because I pray we aren't living lukewarm lives with the warning He gives in Revelation 3:15-16, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

The weather outside is not important as you flip your switch this morning, it comes from within.  Will you leave it in the middle, flip it cold, or flip it to hot and be on fire for God today?

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