Just Say No to Lukewarmness

I don't always say and do the things I should. I know that just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I don't still sin. I do. But I'm on the road of not wanting to and trying not to. But I can't on my own. Been there. I only go so long feeling strong in myself. Doesn't last. I think it comes down to wanting to be more holy & truly seeking Jesus with my whole heart on a daily basis. And really no one can be holy except with His help! I need Him to work from within me, to change me from the inside out. I know that "all have fallen short of the glory of God"; we all need saving and continual help to live our lives for God. I've been listening a lot to Faith radio lately and I've heard some good reminders and warnings like: 1) there is absolute truth and the truth is the truth whether or not people believe it, 2) when you're a mother, focus on your children and not so much on the things you have or don't have, and 3) be really careful not to be lukewarm; if you know the truth about God and you refuse or put off living it out, you're basically telling God, "No. I don't want you right now. Maybe later. Maybe never. I want to do my own thing. It seems to be working for me. If others want to live radically for You, that's fine for them, but it's not for me." Or "I believe God. I believe it's all true. I just don't want to give you everything- all the areas of my life." I thought this 3rd lesson was particularly interesting because it affects so many people's lives. I take a good look at myself when I listen to these messages. Self inspection, inviting God to help me see where I need some fine tuning. I don't want to be lukewarm. Yuck! Have you ever swallowed lukewarm water?? Who likes it in their shower? I don't! I like really cold water to drink and I like my shower water really hot. What I found interesting from that message was the point that God would rather us be hot or even cold instead of lukewarm. What does lukewarm look like? Giving, but not too much. Being embarassed or ashamed to be associated with Jesus Christ. Not reading God's Word when you know it's good for you and that it's really what you should make time to do because it's the guideline for living, but you're not really passionate about it. Lying and justifying it. Just some examples. Seems like we justify our choices all the time. We do what we want to do and leave God out of it. What's really an injustice is that we people call ourselves Christians when asked what our affiliation is (which really means "little Christ"), and the world is looking at us, and then not truly seek after God in our everyday lives. That Christian life thing is on the back burner. Maybe it's not even on the stove! Here's a toast for all of us who don't want to be lukewarm anymore at all. You don't have to be a do-gooder. To the 'untrained eye', people may think I am a do-gooder, bright and shiny. But no. The good I may do is only because I'm trying to love God through how I live. Like I said, I need His help to do this and have the right frame of mind. Doing good is good, but doing good alone without the relationship with Jesus Christ is like walking outside your home to go to work and you realize you are naked. It's good to go to work, but you're missing something really important! Being "saved by grace through faith" and believing in your heart that Jesus is God and that he was raised from the dead is it. It's it! "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and all are JUSTIFIED freely BY his GRACE through the REDEMPTION that came by JESUS Christ." Romans 3:23-24 PS/ Thank you to an old friend of mine who once literally spewed her lukewarm bottled water (and lunch) at Laodecia. What a memorable visual!