Thought for the week

Following Jesus is not a part time job

When I lived in Luton I had a part time job working for ASDA. I'll be honest with you, I really didn't like it and couldn't wait to get home after a shift there. The only good thing about it was that when I got home that was it, I didn't have to think about it again until I walked through the door for my next shift.

We can often treat our relationship with God like that. We go to church and do good Christian things and then go back to the rest of our life where God doesn't have a place.

Read: Revelation 3:15-17

This passage is part of a letter that was written down by John for a church in a place called Laodicea. The contents of the letter were given to John in vision from Jesus, so really the letter is what Jesus wanted to say to that church.

So what's the hot and cold thing about I hear you ask. Let me take you on a brief history tour, back in the day there was a nice hot natural spring found and so wisely the people who lived in Laodicea thought we can build a pipeline to bring the hot water into the city. The problem was however that the water started off hot at the spring but by the time it reached the city it was warm. Warm water isn't much use, hot water is good for washing, bathing etc, cold water is good for drinking but warm water doesn't serve that much purpose and tastes pretty bad. Jesus in this letter is comparing the people in this church to this water that tastes bad and is of no use. Jesus says (paraphrased) that he wants to spit it out or chuck it up.

Jesus wants us to give Him the whole of our lives not just little bits of it. He wants to be the influence on our dreams, relationships, jobs, choices. Half heartedness is not enough for Jesus, He demands more from us.

Q. Are you willing to give up everything for God and be influenced by Him?

Q. What things do you find difficult to let God influence?

Prayer: Ask God to help you to be on whole hearted in the way that you follow Him and to help you to let Him be the most influential thing in your life.