Rev 3:14-22 Sitting on the Fence

Revelation 3:14-22 NIV

Get off the fence! The warning to the church in Laodicea is that they are lukewarm and because they are neither hot nor cold, they are about to be spit out of the mouth of God. This message could and should surely be heard by a goodly number of those who claim to be members of the church, the Body of Christ, in North America. They are not on fire for the Lord; yet, they are not totally cold either; as they will profess to love the Lord when pressed on the subject. Thanks be to God not all who profess to be Christians are lukewarm; but, there are way too many. The time is now for all who profess to the love the Lord to get hot! Get off the fence!

He stands at the door and knocks. Don't be talking to him through a crack in a slightly opened door. Open the door all of the way and let him in and you will no longer be able to continue on lukewarm. He will set your heart on fire. Open the door and let him in!

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Matthew 24 - St. Valentine

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matt 24:9-13 NIV)

Today is St. Valentine's Day. I am not exactly sure how we came to be buying gifts for those whom we love on St. Valentine's Day; after all, according to tradition, February 14th is actually the day we commemorate St. Valentine's martyrdom. He refused to deny Christ and was beheaded for his ardent love of God.

So, maybe, love is the perfect theme for the day. St. Valentine's love for God did not grow cold; not even in the face of death. 

How about ours? Has our love for God grown cold? Do you love Him so much that you cannot wait to hear His Word on Sunday mornings or whenever it is your community gathers together as one body to worship Him? Do you love Him so much that you want others to know about the love of your life? One of my pet peeves for years has been to attend a meeting or dinner with other Christians and the name of Jesus never even comes up. (Really irritating when the group are all ordained!) There is talk about baseball, football, fishing, hunting, the weather, propane prices; there may even be a few very bad jokes; but, no Jesus. How does that relay our love of God; our gratefulness that Jesus loved us so much He was willing to die for us?

When people genuinely love someone it is a natural outflow to talk about the person they love. A loving parent or grandparent talk about their little ones (no matter how old they get) because they love them. They are a central part of their lives. So, it seems to me, if God is our ultimate concern; if we truly love Him; then we will talk about Him. We will share the stories of our love with others.

The stories of St. Valentine tell us of a man who was so willing to confess His love for Jesus, that he was willing to die for the love of His life. He is not alone. There are many in our history. Even today, many are persecuted for daring to profess their love for the God who loves so much that He who was willing to die for them.

Has our love for God grown cold? Do we truly love our neighbors, as God loves us?

Have a blessed St. Valentine's Day.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zephaniah 1 - Fence Sitting Complacency

“I will sweep away everything
    from the face of the earth,”
declares the Lord.
“I will sweep away both man and beast;
    I will sweep away the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea—
    and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” (Zeph 1:2-3a NIV)

Just imagine, for a minute, God with a big broom sweeping clean the earth. That's the picture Zephaniah provides this morning. The prophecy is a warning to those who worship false idols. It is a warning to those who worship false gods as well as feign to worship God. It is also a warning to those who are complacent; to those who think that God might be complacent.

"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
    and punish those who are complacent,
    who are like wine left on its dregs,
who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,
    either good or bad.’" (Zeph 1:12)

There is only one God, either we are for Him or against Him. There is no in between. Therefore; worship the one true God with your whole hearts, soul, and mind. Do not be distracted by the pleasures the false gods would tease you with, which end up being not pleasures; but, troubles. For many years, I believed that to say that "I believe" was enough to save me. But, saying something isn't necessarily believing it with our whole hearts, minds, and souls. Complacency and sitting on the fence is about as useful to salvation as non-belief. At least that is the conclusion I came to for myself years ago, after reading, in the Revelation of St. John, the letter to the church in Laodicea.

“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." (Rev 3:14:19)

 

Maybe, it's time to consider whether the church on earth (we) has become complacent. Are we sitting on the fence? 

 

May the God of all grace and glory fill us with a desire to worship and serve Him above all others.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.