Skip to main content

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?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2020 is Hindsight...Finally!

Wow, what a year! 2020 could literally be an entire decade, maybe more, of history, change, and lessons rolled up into these twelve months. While many aspects of 2020 were kind of sucky and we would like to forget them, it will certainly be a year to remember. And it will be enlightening when this year is looked back on in 10, 25, or 50 years to be discussed. I wonder if we'll seem like geniuses or idiots? Probably both to some extent! While there is so much that I could consider and analyze about this year, I'll try to break some of it down into four dimensions - Physical, Spiritual, Mental, and Social/Emotional. These are events and happenings from my world and perspective and I'm trying to be open in sharing and would love to hear from others on events you found most transforming. Physical When COVID cause gyms to close, that messed me up. Our town and state were late to be hit with severe cases and therefore later than many across the country to close up shop. I'm n...
Post a Comment
Read more

Worship > Fellowship

I believe that worship, true worship of God, is more important than fellowship with other believers.  Now I'm not saying that fellowship and relationships aren't important.  But I am saying that if I'm not worshiping God, if I'm not right with him, then my other relationships can't be right.  My fellowship and worship with him is more important than my relationship with my wife, my son, family, friends, my church, and my community.  Think about it.  How can I love my wife like Christ loved the church if I don't love Christ?  I wouldn't know how to love without knowing him.  Why should she submit to me if I'm not worth submitting to?  And yes I do believes wives should submit, but I also believe that won't be an issue as long as she's submitting to a godly husband.  (Ephesians 5:22-25) Our love for others must flow from our love and worship of God.  1 John 4:19-21 reads, "We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says,...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Power of Our Tongue

"How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." - James 3:6 When we think of fire, we may think of a small campfire to roast marshmallows, a wood stove fire that is contained, or possibly a raging inferno that is destroying a building or forest.  James here is comparing our tongue to a fire.  The sinful words that come out of our mouths have the power to destroy everything they touch, and like a fire can do so rapidly or slowly, but with dramatic effect either way.  We should also be mindful of our speech because even if it's not directly what we say, the permeating "smoke" from our speech can destroy the things around us as well.  Often times even when we are filled with good and honorable actions, our tongue can stain, or contaminate, our body throug...
Post a Comment
Read more