Week Five, 2018
IN OR OUT?
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. – Revelation 3:15-16
Recently, my bride and I went to a spot on planet earth that was 0-0-0 Latitude. Located in Ecuador, it is literally the middle of the planet. A yellow line depicts the dividing line between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and is commonly referred to as the Equator. It is depicted literally by a yellow line.
One can straddle that line and be half in each hemisphere. Many Christians live their lives that way, half in and half out. John speaks of that in Revelation saying that we have the option of being either hot or cold, but we should not straddle the middle and be lukewarm.
I am not a poker player, but I understand that when a player feels lucky, he can bet the farm, by shoving all his chips to the middle of the table and saying, “I’m all in.” It is either win the table or lose all he has.
Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea can be confusing. The vibrancy of the church is best to be hot, but cold is better than lukewarm. What this says is that it is better to be an indifferent pagan than to be a backslidden Christian. It is better to have never heard the Gospel than to have heard, accepted and fallen away. The one who has never heard has an excuse, but the one who has does not.
What is your spiritual temperature, hot, lukewarm or cold? Are you all in and not straddling the middle line?
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.
Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight,”
The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”
Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Remember to give thanks and not be afraid of difficulties ahead.
True freedom is not freedom from responsibility to God and others, but freedom from ourselves in order to live for God and others. John Stott
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©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618