I've hung around Division One football for some 14-15 years, as a voluntary team chaplain for the Iowa State Cyclones. Thank you, Dan McCarney, for my entree in, and thank you, Coach Rhoads, for the honor of being a part of your team.
You can't hang around Division One football and not see injuries. Twisted limbs, bruised muscles, backs, a raft of physical hurts without number.
EXTREME TEMPERATURES ARE EFFECTIVE
Athletic trainers are professionals who bring athletes back by their skill in administering treatments and therapy.
Sometimes, an injured athlete can be seen sitting in an iced tub of cold water. It is bitingly cold water that reduces blood flow and swelling so that the extent of an injury can be kept to a minimum.
Sometimes an injured athlete can be seen with a heating pad around a thigh, or wrapped around a back. It is heat that increases blood flow, and brings much needed oxygen to areas that need healing and strengthening.
Cold. Heat. Injuries can begin healing through them. Strength can be recovered through them. Temperatures which are useful and effective.
COLD, HOT, or LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS
In the Biblical book of REVELATION, chapters 2-3 record Jesus sizing up the effectiveness of 7 churches which were organized and operating in the region of Asia Minor (today, modern Turkey). Jesus assessed the faithfulness and fruitfulness of these churches, and more particularly, the ministry effectiveness of His followers in these churches.
In Revelation 3:15-16, the Lord of the church of Laodicea makes a startling statement: I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. History tells us that near Laodicea, there were both cool healing water pools, and hot spring healing water pools. Both were effective for the restoration of people's physical bodies. No pool was effective if it was lukewarm.
Jesus rebukes his followers for being "luke-warm." He sized up their "works" and found them not effective for the kingdom. The graphic is powerful. "Because you are luke-warm, I will spit you out of my mouth," a metaphor of disapproval.
WHAT IS LUKEWARM SPIRITUALITY?
Over the centuries of Christian thought, much has been written about what being "luke-warm" is? In keeping with the historical context (and you can read the rest of what Jesus says to the Laodicean church), it must be related to Christians who are not willing to become effective, self-sacrificing servants of Jesus toward others. Perhaps people content to keep their Christian faith to themselves. Perhaps Christians who are content in their self-assessment of being "rich" without caring for using what God has put in their hands to minister to others.
The solution (as you continue to read Jesus' letter to them, Rev. 3:17f) is to reopen the door of their hearts to Jesus, let him come in and fellowship, and restore His passion for ministry to their lives.
Never forget - Jesus is on a mission for people. He loves them. He died for them. He expects His followers to join Him in effective, fruitful ministry. He doesn't have much time for posers, benchwarmers, the complacent, the uncommitted.
I wish you were hot, or cold!! the Master pleads. Let Me back in to the center of your heart, and what you do with your life.
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