Cold nor Hot – Praying Pint

37.s. “I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’

Revelations 3:15-16: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

We can come up with all kinds of reasons why we are consumed by the busyness of life and have little to no time for God and things of God. Young families find themselves going from work to baseball, soccer, volleyball, football, track, tennis, matches, practice, out-of-town events, and other school activities. They get stuck in being busy and end up having no time for God or things of God. They are consumed by life. Their quiet time for God is listening to a gospel song on the way to work, or when time permits a trip to church. Prayer is reserved for those awful times in life where trials and troubles overwhelm them. Such is life when God and things of God are put “Second” on the priority list.

It is very easy to discern.

Neglecting God’s Word.
Complacency
Things of God are not given any thought
There is no thought of having everything you say, think, and do for the honor and glory of Jesus
There is no meditation on His Word
Joy, love, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, generosity, self-control, and patience are missing
Fear, confusion, anger, division, and worry find places in your mind
There is no fruit for the kingdom of God
Giving of time or money is weak at best
More time is spent on social media than on God’s Word
More time is spent watching TV than in God’s Word
More thought is given to sports and watching and attending them
World and local news is more important than God’s Word
Life seems to be more of a burden than a joy to experience
You no longer hear the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit
You are no longer aware of sin and the need for repentance
You are tolerant of things that are not godly
Worldly wisdom seems to make sense
You are never satisfied or content
There is a void in your heart and mind but you can’t put your finger on what is missing
God’s coming wrath and judgment and the return of Jesus Christ is given no thought
The great price Jesus paid for your sin is given no thought
There is no discernment between Godly and worldly

There should be no room for neglect or complacency toward Jesus Christ and the things of God in our lives. We should be very growing in our understanding and knowledge of God and His love, grace, and mercy. We should be ever growing in our desire to, more and more each day, learn to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in how we think, what we speak, and what we do.

When we allow ourselves room to be neglectful and complacent it does not end well. Nor will we find satisfaction and purpose for our souls.

6.k. ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.”

Revelation 3:15 “‘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. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Matthew 24:12    And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Deuteronomy 5:29    Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

Psalms 81:11-13     “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.  Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!

1 Kings 18:21   And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

Do you ever stop to wonder what the Christians in Laodicea were like and how we compare to them? What were their daily lives like? How did they speak, think, and act? What was their worship like? Where did they place God in their lives? What influence did culture have on how they reverenced God? The big question that comes to my mind is how close are we to acting, living, thinking, and speaking like the Christians in Laodicea. Notice how it says they prospered which led them to think they needed nothing. They are called wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. They sought comfort, ease, and became content with their lives apart from God. How many times do prosperity and ease lead people down paths apart from God? For this very reason, you need to make every effort to live in fear, reverence, and thankfulness of the redeeming salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to live as though we are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. Sons and daughters who live to honor, glorify, worship, follow, trust and obey their Father. Sons and Daughters who never forget from that which they were saved. Sons and daughters who remember and love Jesus Christ because they remember that which they have been forgiven. Sons and daughters who live each day with Jesus Christ being first in their life. Sons and daughters who deny self and live no longer being self-centered and self-reliant.

How do you compare to the Christians of Laodicea? Are you living lukewarm? Repent and intentionally choose to live each moment of every day honoring Jesus Christ. What are you tolerating in your life that you shouldn’t? What are you doing that you know you shouldn’t but you do because other Christians are doing it? REPENT!!!!!!

His Promise(s)

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”

Joshua 23:10
One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

Revelation 3:18
“‘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. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

How BIG are your problems? “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you”. Has God ever failed you? No. Have we ever failed God? Yes. Does God love us unconditionally? Yes. Is God bigger, stronger, mightier, and able to handle any problem you are facing? Yes. Praise God. He is able to more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Amen? I have no clue what you are facing but I do know the promises of God are there for each one of us to cling to, trust in, and rely on. Whatever burden it is your are facing give it to Him.