Be a Steaming Cup

Sometimes I get caught up in my reading and writing in the morning and my coffee cools down. One thing I don’t like is lukewarm coffee. The other morning, I picked up my cup and took a big sip and immediately spit it back in the cup. Yuk!

I headed to the sink and dumped it out. Refilled my cup, took another drink, ahhh, nice and hot the way it should be.

That’s what I thought of while reading these verses from Revelation.

“Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: “Here is a message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of all that God has made.

15 ‘I know what you do. You are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold! 16 But you are only warm—not hot, not cold. So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don’t need anything. But you don’t know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy gold from me—gold made pure in fire. Then you will be rich. I tell you this: Buy clothes that are white. Then you will be able to cover your shameful nakedness. I also tell you to buy medicine to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.

19 “I correct and punish the people I love. So show that nothing is more important to you than living right. Change your hearts and lives. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.” Revelation 3:14-20

Lukewarm Christians are not what Jesus is looking for. He would rather we be cold over being lukewarm.

He prefers that we be red-hot, on fire Christians serving Him but if not, don’t do it half way. Don’t fake it – that gives Christianity a bad name. Live a life that is distinguished – live different, set apart so that people will know that your life counts for God.

It has been my unfortunate experience to hear “If that’s what a Christian is or how they act, I don’t want to be one”.

He is standing at the door waiting to fellowship with us today. He wants to be invited into our home, into your life and develop in friendship and companionship with us. So many times, this verse is used as salvation invitation, but it is written to Christians to convey the depth of relationship that God wants to have with us.

He wants to be invited into our lives in a very real way. He stands at our life’s door, waiting to be invited in. He wants to be with us daily – to eat with us, to share life’s joys and sorrows, to bring us peace.

Let’s not be lukewarm! A life with Christ is a life where the steam of His love can be seen rising from our cups.

No Room

Have you had those moments when a simple conversation has become a profound lesson?

We had moved back to Arizona from Montana, and we lived close to a small artisans’ community called Tubac. It became my favorite place to shop. We were decorating our home, and I found so many unique pieces there.

For years, I have collected angels and nativities. The shops had a myriad of those two items, but I found one thing very strange. In one particular shop there were nativities from around the world but there were no baby Jesus’.

Then I saw a small handwritten sign. “Please ask for the baby Jesus.” So, I did. I asked Max, the shop keeper, where’s the baby Jesus? He told me they had to keep them under the counter and in the back area of the store because people would steal the baby Jesus.

Steal the baby Jesus! Yes. Who would steal the baby Jesus? I couldn’t imagine that.

 While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her baby. Her first son was born. She put cloth around Him and laid Him in a place where cattle are fed. There was no room for them in the place where people stay for the night.” Luke 2:6-7 NLV

I was taken back by the thought of someone stealing Jesus but I shouldn’t have been. Remember, that first Christmas when Jesus was born? There was no room for them except in a stable.

If the Innkeeper had known that Mary was carrying the Messiah would he have evicted one of the other guests and given her a room? But there was nothing about this young expecting couple that set them apart as holy and God-chosen. They were just weary travelers.

No room.

A stolen baby Jesus.

People have been taking Jesus out of the picture for years. He’s been replaced by Santa, stolen from society by the Grinch and an Elf. Yet, He still comes to each heart looking for a place to stay.

“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we will eat together.” Revelation 3:20 NLV

Don’t let Jesus be stolen from your Christmas celebration. May we always have room for Jesus!