Be hot or cold

"I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16 BSB

As a running coach, I am often asked the question, "Which is better for recovery, a hot or cold soak?" And while my answer has always been cold, new research suggests there may be a time and a place for heat as well. For instance, cold-water therapy (ice baths) is the go-to for runners experiencing inflammation from the hard effort of a long run and has been deemed effective in both healing and preventing injury. Heat therapy, however, can aid in muscle relaxation and create changes on a cellular level, allowing fluids to flow more freely through your body. At the end of the day though, one thing is certain; cold wins out over hot almost always and lukewarm therapy has no benefit whatsoever. 

And you know, when it comes to being being lukewarm, the Bible is very clear that a lukewarm church is of no benefit whatsoever to the world. And the same can be said of a lukewarm Christian or any believer that claims to love Jesus but exhibits no fruit or is reluctant to publicly proclaim their faith. It's the person who may even come to church every Sunday to mark it off their list-acting one way inside the building and a total different way outside the building. Of this person, God says, "How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!" Wow! That's a pretty brutal statement isn't it? Clearly God is not messing around. 

So if you were to take your temperature today, would you say you are hot, cold, or lukewarm? What would God, who knows "your deeds," say that you are? If the answer to that is merely lukewarm, what steps will you do to change that?  

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it perfectly clear that lukewarm Christianity is not only unacceptable to You but absolutely offensive. Help us to see ourselves as You do Lord that we might change whatever we need to change to be on fire for You so we can be the light we are called to be in this dark world. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Start a fire