I would like to open with a personal note-I wish to thank Ed and Leann Smith for all that they do for this ministry. I am sure most if not all of the members of Higher Grounds congregation feel the same so a hardy THANK YOU from us all!!
Beth Mattocks was our speaker this week. Gee isn`t that gal growing in the spirit of the Lord?!!
Our Lord Jesus, through Beth, made three main points:
1. Don`t be lukewarm
2.What is the greatest gift we can give to God?
3. What is the greatest gift that we receive from God?
"Lukewarm" ( Revelations3:16) -now there`s a tepid,indifferent, uninspiring kind of word. How about rotting flesh, odor so rank one can smell it down the street.?How about bacteria caused illness that makes us vomit in our own beds and then sleep in it?!! Revelations 3:17 says "wretched,pitiable,poor, blind and naked". Lukewarm doesn`t seem so nice now, does it?? This is the point Beth made by her examples of morgue bodies and spoiled food. Jesus does NOT accept lukewarm eh?
What is our greatest gift to God this Christmas- You!!! Me!! Us!! Our first steps towards God begin here. Turn aside what the world(other people) think and only concern ourselves with what God wants. If gifts were graded on degree of difficulty would not this rate a 10?!!! But let us compare that to God`s gift-"For God so loved the world that he gave....." we know what goes in the blank don`t we?
And this of course is the greatest gift we can receive-Jesus Christ in our hearts.
Now, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus let us accept God`s gift and return what he wants from us. A more than fair trade!!
Provacative question- Jesus says that lukewarm is actually worse than cold. How can that be?
"Merry Christmas" from Jamie and I to one and all. Y`all have a GREAT holiday and remember that the greatest gift has already been received!!
1 comment:
Regarding the question: Christ's metaphorical language in Revelaton 3:16 is drawn from Laodicea's water supply. It traveled several miles underground, reaching the city as foul tepid, dirty water. It was not hot enough to sooth aching muscles and not cold enough for a refreshing drink. Some churches make Jesus cry, others make him angry but the Laodicean church made him sick. "hot" here refers to the fervency of a transformed life. Cold is best understood as those who presently reject Jesus ( no spiritual response yet) Lukewarm is the self righteous,hypocritical ones going around as having no need for Christ or a Savior...They tell themselves I'm not so bad! Such lukewarm persons are harder to reach than those who to date have had no response to the Gospel. The cold have said no to Jesus at the present time while the luke warm people have decided that they are fine with a an arms length relationship with the Savior. After all they go to church, sing the hymns...even if after they leave church there is no further thought of HIM. They only need so much of this Jesus. Take your temperature!
Merry Christmas Higher Grounds!
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