August 28th, 2024
by John Kelley
by John Kelley
I’ve been a sports fan my whole life. My dad watched every sport possible; baseball, football, basketball, golf, or whatever was on at that moment. I remember watching monster trucks one day and lacrosse the next. You just never knew what would be on the TV, but you knew it would be sports-related. My dad was also passionate about the teams that he cheered for. In baseball, it was the Cincinnati Reds. He would tell me all about the Big Red Machine. Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and George Foster were almost mythical beings as a kid. In pro football, it was the Cleveland Browns. All through the 80s, Dad had playoff parties with folks from our church as we all cheered on our team. Unfortunately, we never got that Super Bowl appearance that we hoped for, but we had a great time anyway.
As passionate as Dad was for those two teams, nothing compared to our Ohio State Buckeyes, and nothing was more important than beating that team up north, the Michigan Wolverines. There’s a reason why the last game of the regular season for these two teams is called “the Game”. For decades, it has decided conference and national championships. It’s kept one of these teams from getting into the college playoffs multiple times. During the week of the game, students all over the Ohio State campus x out every “m” on campus. The intensity for the game is at a fever pitch, and everyone is ready to beat *ichigan. You will never find a fan who likes both Ohio State and Michigan. It’s not possible. You have to choose a side. There’s no room for middle ground.
God’s not into sports, at least as far as I can tell, but He is not of fan of hanging out in the middle. God is an all-in kind of God. He wants complete buy-in to His call and will.
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15–16
This passage is directed at the church of Laodicea. This was a church that was more interested in status than holiness. They didn’t do evil things, but they really felt like they had it all. As a result, they were what we would call today, “Sunday Christians”. They attend the right things. They don’t ruffle feathers, but they also don’t place Christ first in everything. They were simply middle-of-the-road Christians. They weren’t hot. They weren’t cold. They were lukewarm. When it comes to food, there are foods that are better hot, and there are foods that are better cold. It’s the same with what we drink. Some drinks are better ice cold while others are better piping hot. You rarely hear of someone saying, “I could really go for a lukewarm soda right now.” or “French fries are always best once they’re room temperature.” No. It’s just the opposite. I want an ice-cold soda and some fresh, right out of the fryer, french fries. Both are really just gross when they’re lukewarm. That’s what Jesus is saying here. By being lukewarm, they aren’t being the disciples that He wants them to be, but they think they are. To Christ, they’re gross. He would rather they just turn away from Him instead of living like they are.
“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Revelation 3:17–22
Due to their wealth, they felt that they had their lives together and they needed nothing. Jesus tells them to trust in Him. Depend on what He provides and not what this world does. He goes so far as to imply that He’s standing at the door of their church and they won’t let Him in. They are so blinded by their affluence and self-righteousness that they don’t even realize that Jesus isn’t in the building.
It’s so easy for us to think we have it together when we do things the way this world tells us to. Get the high paying job. Get the big house. Get the six-figure car. Then people can marvel at how well you are doing. It’s then that people will see that God is good. But isn’t God good even when we’re broke? Isn’t God good even when we’re scraping to get by? Why is God only good when we’re getting what we want? God isn’t Santa Clause, a genie in a bottle, or a wishing stone. God doesn’t exist for our benefit. God is God. We need to stop acting like He has to obey our every whim and understand that His ways are better than our ways.
Financial gain on earth doesn’t mean eternal promise. A bigger house and popularity don’t mean a larger mansion in Heaven. Is it wrong to have those things? Absolutely not! The problem is when we think we don’t need to trust in God, because we’ve got it together. When we start to think of our earthly gain as righteousness, that’s where the waters get murky. We can’t lean on our own wisdom and intelligence. God just simply knows better.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinithians 1:25
It’s time we stop straddling the fence when it comes to our faith. Regardless of our bank accounts or the number of friends we have on social media, we need to lean into God 100%. He doesn’t want 50, 75, or even 99%. He wants us in all the way. The greatest teams have the greatest buy-in and win. The army whose soldiers are willing to die for the cause comes out as the victors. If we want to save a lost world, we can’t be middle of the road, we can’t have one foot in the world and the other in the Church. We have to decide where our commitment lies. We have to choose a side.
As passionate as Dad was for those two teams, nothing compared to our Ohio State Buckeyes, and nothing was more important than beating that team up north, the Michigan Wolverines. There’s a reason why the last game of the regular season for these two teams is called “the Game”. For decades, it has decided conference and national championships. It’s kept one of these teams from getting into the college playoffs multiple times. During the week of the game, students all over the Ohio State campus x out every “m” on campus. The intensity for the game is at a fever pitch, and everyone is ready to beat *ichigan. You will never find a fan who likes both Ohio State and Michigan. It’s not possible. You have to choose a side. There’s no room for middle ground.
God’s not into sports, at least as far as I can tell, but He is not of fan of hanging out in the middle. God is an all-in kind of God. He wants complete buy-in to His call and will.
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15–16
This passage is directed at the church of Laodicea. This was a church that was more interested in status than holiness. They didn’t do evil things, but they really felt like they had it all. As a result, they were what we would call today, “Sunday Christians”. They attend the right things. They don’t ruffle feathers, but they also don’t place Christ first in everything. They were simply middle-of-the-road Christians. They weren’t hot. They weren’t cold. They were lukewarm. When it comes to food, there are foods that are better hot, and there are foods that are better cold. It’s the same with what we drink. Some drinks are better ice cold while others are better piping hot. You rarely hear of someone saying, “I could really go for a lukewarm soda right now.” or “French fries are always best once they’re room temperature.” No. It’s just the opposite. I want an ice-cold soda and some fresh, right out of the fryer, french fries. Both are really just gross when they’re lukewarm. That’s what Jesus is saying here. By being lukewarm, they aren’t being the disciples that He wants them to be, but they think they are. To Christ, they’re gross. He would rather they just turn away from Him instead of living like they are.
“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Revelation 3:17–22
Due to their wealth, they felt that they had their lives together and they needed nothing. Jesus tells them to trust in Him. Depend on what He provides and not what this world does. He goes so far as to imply that He’s standing at the door of their church and they won’t let Him in. They are so blinded by their affluence and self-righteousness that they don’t even realize that Jesus isn’t in the building.
It’s so easy for us to think we have it together when we do things the way this world tells us to. Get the high paying job. Get the big house. Get the six-figure car. Then people can marvel at how well you are doing. It’s then that people will see that God is good. But isn’t God good even when we’re broke? Isn’t God good even when we’re scraping to get by? Why is God only good when we’re getting what we want? God isn’t Santa Clause, a genie in a bottle, or a wishing stone. God doesn’t exist for our benefit. God is God. We need to stop acting like He has to obey our every whim and understand that His ways are better than our ways.
Financial gain on earth doesn’t mean eternal promise. A bigger house and popularity don’t mean a larger mansion in Heaven. Is it wrong to have those things? Absolutely not! The problem is when we think we don’t need to trust in God, because we’ve got it together. When we start to think of our earthly gain as righteousness, that’s where the waters get murky. We can’t lean on our own wisdom and intelligence. God just simply knows better.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinithians 1:25
It’s time we stop straddling the fence when it comes to our faith. Regardless of our bank accounts or the number of friends we have on social media, we need to lean into God 100%. He doesn’t want 50, 75, or even 99%. He wants us in all the way. The greatest teams have the greatest buy-in and win. The army whose soldiers are willing to die for the cause comes out as the victors. If we want to save a lost world, we can’t be middle of the road, we can’t have one foot in the world and the other in the Church. We have to decide where our commitment lies. We have to choose a side.
Posted in Christian Foundations, Community, Eternity, faith, Greed, Idolatry, Lifestyle, Money, Power, Pride, thankfulness, The Church
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What Is Prayer?AdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationScripture Is The Word Of GodGod’s Word Guides UsGod’s Word Convicts UsGod’s Word Connects UsGod’s Word Encourages UsWhat Is Worship?Worship In Our WorkWorship In Our FamilySunday WorshipWorship Even When You Don't Want ToWhat is Fasting All About?Giving God Our Meal TimesEmptied of Ourselves and Filled with ChristFasting Develops FocusFood Is OverratedGod Is NOT In The FireJesus Sneaks OffWe Make Our Own Noise
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We All Need SpaceGod Is Not Santa ClausWith Great Blessing Comes Great ResponsibilityCan Stewardship Be Scary?Filling the Need When We See ItIt's All His AnywayTime Is NOT On My SideWe Need Each OtherDevoted To The WordBreaking Bread TogetherGroup Conversations With GodFour Hands Are Better Than TwoLet’s Keep It SimpleOnly Take What You NeedSlow DownThe Great PurgeA Simple MessageGod’s Word Is A WeaponDo You Have A Game Plan?What You Remember Most Matters MostStart With the Basics
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Sin Is RealDistraction Leads to Cover-UpWandering In DisobediencePride Comes Before the FallI Do What I HateThe Beauty of RedemptionRedemption Has A PriceWe Need To Claim Our PrizeYou Gotta Have FaithEven When You Look Like a Fool….God Will ProvideTrust the ProcessI Forgive YouGrace Is Free, But It Isn't CheapI Was Wrong, You Were RightThe Mob
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