“With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This is one of those psalms to pray when the wheels have fallen off the thing and nothing is going your way. The context note tells us that it was a prayer of David’s when he was in the cave. That alone gives us some hope that this is a good prayer for hopeless-seeming situations even without any of the other words. Read the rest…
“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.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This is more of a note of explanation than inspiration. Many interpreters over the years have read this verse and come to the conclusion that Jesus’s point is that it is better to be either on fire for Him or else against Him than it is to be merely half-heartedly committed to Him. This may preach well, but it is almost totally wrong.
The city of Laodicea was located a long way from a source of fresh water. There were two different sources within the region. One was a hot springs and one cold. In order to get the water to the city, it had to be carried there via aqueduct. This got water for the city, but by the time it arrived from either source, it was neither hot nor cold.
Hot water was useful. You could wash with it. You could bathe in it. You could cook with it. The same was true of cold water. You could drink it, wash with it, cook with it. Both hot and cold water were useful. The water, however, arrived lukewarm. Have you ever picked up a cup of water to drink and found it to be stale and at room temperature? It’s gross. It’s worthless. It serves no useful purpose. The only thing you want to do is spit it out.
That’s Jesus’s point here. Hot and cold both symbolize usefulness and passion. Either was good. But, half-hearted commitment benefitted no one anything. Jesus wants all of us, not some of us. Splitting our attention between Him and something else does Him no good. It doesn’t help us any either. Give yourself to Jesus fully and without reserve. He’s worth it.
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Have you ever struggled with feeling known? One of the challenges of social media today is that a person can have hundreds, even thousands of followers, but no one who really knows them. We need to be known. This desire isn’t just a symptom of an unhealthy ego, it is a fundamental need as humans. Read the rest…
“For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
God wants to be close to us. There is no one so low who is yet seeking God to whom He is not as close as their next breath. Although He is the high and exalted God, yet He is near to us. He is transcendent, yes, but He is also immanent. Read the rest…
“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Make no mistake: If you are a follower of Jesus, the world hates you just like it hated Him. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone who isn’t one of His followers as well hates you. You may (and should) have friends who are non-believers, some of whom may be very good friends. But, for anyone who is committed to the ends of the world (the elevation of self and the desires of the flesh above all else), they will hate the ends of the kingdom toward which you are working (the elevation of God and the humiliation of self), a hatred which will eventually be worked out through you.
Persecution should never surprise us as followers of Jesus. If we behave as He did, we will be treated as He was as well. This should be a mark of pride, knowing that we are on the right track.
The Nexus 