Hi there!
So you will be familiar with the verse in Revelation about being hot or cold? The point is that we are supposed to do something about our faith, to distinguish it from the so-called 'faith' that is in the world. In the world, people are happy to be lukewarm - Jesus calls us to something greater.
The problem is, sometimes we need to discern a little more than what the choice - for us - should be and sometimes we think we have answered the question, when really there is more that we can do. In aid of these things, consider the following extension of the verse you are familiar with:
In other words, you may be cold, but all you have done is make everything cold; your being 'cold' lacks meaning, because you are still meant to be able to function meaningfully while you are cold. It's not enough to say "I have read the bible, I know what 'cold' is", you have to keep working with scripture, to work out how best to be cold.
Now I, personally am cold as a believer (I have decided that), but I didn't want to leave my hotter brothers and sisters out; so here goes: you are hot, but you cannot share melted ice-cream with everyone. In other words, you have decided to be hot, but you haven't protected what you value, from it being destroyed by circumstance. You can be hot all you want, but if you rub people up the wrong way (with melted ice-cream) you won't encourage the faith of everyone (like you are supposed to?). Don't just be happy to be as hot as the next guy, without understanding what it means?
Anyway, the Holy Spirit will remind you of these words, if the need should arise - just take comfort that you know better, for now!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
So you will be familiar with the verse in Revelation about being hot or cold? The point is that we are supposed to do something about our faith, to distinguish it from the so-called 'faith' that is in the world. In the world, people are happy to be lukewarm - Jesus calls us to something greater.
The problem is, sometimes we need to discern a little more than what the choice - for us - should be and sometimes we think we have answered the question, when really there is more that we can do. In aid of these things, consider the following extension of the verse you are familiar with:
In other words, you may be cold, but all you have done is make everything cold; your being 'cold' lacks meaning, because you are still meant to be able to function meaningfully while you are cold. It's not enough to say "I have read the bible, I know what 'cold' is", you have to keep working with scripture, to work out how best to be cold.
Now I, personally am cold as a believer (I have decided that), but I didn't want to leave my hotter brothers and sisters out; so here goes: you are hot, but you cannot share melted ice-cream with everyone. In other words, you have decided to be hot, but you haven't protected what you value, from it being destroyed by circumstance. You can be hot all you want, but if you rub people up the wrong way (with melted ice-cream) you won't encourage the faith of everyone (like you are supposed to?). Don't just be happy to be as hot as the next guy, without understanding what it means?
Anyway, the Holy Spirit will remind you of these words, if the need should arise - just take comfort that you know better, for now!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
