Lukewarm

 

I grew up in a big old house. Story is it used to be home to the Catholic nuns in town. There were old wooden floors, huge sliding doors, steep staircases and a big claw foot tub!  I remember soaking in the tub as a child. My sisters and I would play for hours with our little people boat, barbies and ponies until our skin was wrinkled and our bodies were shivering. 

I remember sitting in that water, just playing and playing without a care in the world until eventually the water would get lukewarm. The comfort of the hot water would disappear and the bubbles would disappear. We could see a grayness come over the water and our bodies responded with goose bumps and chills. 

This week I read a quote from Francis Chan's book, "Crazy Love" that reminded me of those days as a child. 

"Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives."

OUCH!  Am I the only one who can relate to that and feel a tinge of conviction?  I mean maybe I am...but come on...when we are real, when we become transparent, what might God look down and see in us?

A tub full of steaming hot water....bubbling over with excitement and joy over our Lord and Savior....inviting others into our tub of His gracious love, His loving arms, His warm heart?

Or....a lukewarm tub...doing a little here and there...going to church on Sunday...saying "Praise the Lord" here and there...giving from our wealth but not from sacrifice?  

OUCH!

Dear Lord...help me not to be lukewarm. Help me to be steaming hot for you. On fire for your Word, your Will. Bubbling over with joy that comes only from you!  

"The Lord says, 'These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." 

Isaiah 29:13