Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Both.
It’s funny how some emotions go together. We can be both …
happy and sad,
laughing and crying,
hungry and full,
busy and bored,
anticipating and dreading,
fast and slow,
funny and serious,
fearful and brave.
“Both” is defined as “one and the other; two together” (dictionary.com).
Jesus had something to say about being both hot and cold:
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!“ (Revelation 3:15-16, NLT)
He was talking to the church of Laodicea, whose faith had become lukewarm. Their faith was not as vibrant and alive as it was in the beginning of their walk with Jesus. Neither was it cold. They had not walked away from their faith.
They were lukewarm, going through the motions of their faith.
They didn’t realize their desperate need for Jesus any longer. They thought they could coast through life on their own – their own abilities, their own finances, their own dreams, their own provisions.
But Jesus wanted them to be one or the other as faith cannot be both hot and cold.
Jesus was correcting them out of His love for them:
“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” (verse 19)
And when we accept the discipline, He still holds out a promise to us:
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” (verses 20-21)
Faith …
it can be hot or cold but
it cannot be both.
Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
I agree, thank you for sharing and encouraging your readers to not be lukewarm, that our faith can be hot or cold but it cannot be both- well said!
Joanne, I’ve been in this passage many times over the last year, and been corrected by the Lord in it, but I’ve never seen it from this perspective. I’ve spent far too much time being lukewarm. What a great reminder!! Your FMF neighbour at #3 this week.
Yup, choose this day…gotta decide to be one or the other…n no decision is a decision…
We are deceived into thinking we have all the time in the world to make a choice….
I am laughing through my tears,
smoothing slow, for smooth is fast,
sobriety that needs some beers,
and finding first will be the last.
They say I’m brave but I am scared.
Resolute? I’m undecided.
Cancer has my life done pared
to solid whole that is divided,
but this is really not the time
to look for portends in soap-bubble,
and I find that it’s just fine
to know that now I have to juggle
weird ambiguities of days
that become a form of praise.
Joanne,
I love this promise–it’s one of my favorite verses. Correction is always difficult but I long to be at the table with Him.
Blessings,
Tammy