Friday, July 31, 2015

A POT OF WATER

      Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (1st Corinthians 13: 1)
   Steam is in the water, but the steam will never arise until heat is applied.
   Some people are like water, and the best in them will never arise until a fire is lit beneath their britches.  Until then, they will remain comfortable in comfort zones, doing no more than they are doing now.
   How many pots of water sit on church pews, refusing to be stirred, refusing to arise, but have found comfort on padded seats?  And their participation could be described as no more than the result of family rituals or family traditions; for as soon as they leave the building, they quickly return to the things they enjoy doing the most, which can include shopping, watching television, eating a meal, taking a nap, or talking about their neighbors.
   Kids like to splash water and make noise.  Some like to brag about everything they say they can do, and even to brag about things they have never done.  But when you call them out to play baseball on a summer afternoon, they say: "It's too hot".
   Many adults are like children:  they like to splash water and make noise.  They like to brag about everything they say they can do, and even to brag about things they have never done.  They like the attention.  They like the spotlight.  They say they like to play golf.  But when you call them out to play golf on a summer afternoon, they say: "It's too hot". 
   Sports always has its share of adults in kids' clothing. They like to splash water and make noise. They like to be the hot dog, or the star of the show.  But when the team needs them on game day, they suddenly have a cranky stomach.  Or they treat game day as a practice day because they haven't practiced for a week.
   Pots of water leave home, go to church, and leave the church.
   Pots of water leave home, go to church, and leave the church.
   Pots of water leave home, go to church, and leave the church.
   Going to church is like Ground Hog Day over and over again.
   Where is Christ in the pots of water? 
   Did Christ arise from death to simply vanish, or disappear, and to never be heard from again?
   Did Christ arise from death to simply return to heaven and to do no more?
   On the day of Pentecost, the disciples of Christ were gathered in an upper room.  And what were they doing there?
   They were praying!
   The disciples were not pots of water on a stove with nothing to do.  And when the Holy Spirit ignited their hearts with the power of God, steam began to arise out of the disciples!  They began preaching Christ on the streets of Jerusalem, and from there they departed to other nations because these pots of water were spilling over!
   Perhaps some pots of water should spend some time in prayer.  After all, Jesus said,  My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21: 13)
   So then, if pots of water are not entering the house of the Lord to pray, what are they doing there?
   Could it be that the Holy Spirit has not ignited their hearts with the power of God?
   Could this be the reason for sounding brass and tinkling cymbals?
   If my pot of water is not shaken and stirred, then my pot of water will become a block of ice.
   What if Christ had remained as a pot of water in the tomb and refused to arise? 
   What if Christ had become a block of ice?
  
  

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