“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.”
-Revelation 3:15-17 (The Message)
Isn’t it funny how we always pray when we want something? Think about it. Almost every time people want to win a game or match, they pray before it’s time to play. Then, after that prayer is done, the “God part” is done, and it’s time to put their game faces back on. If they win, they’ll probably even go party after.
Think about this for a moment. Let’s say you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Every time you see them you get all googly-eyed and mushy. Say this boyfriend or girlfriend acts like they love you until they’re away from you. Then they cheat on you behind your back and flirt with other people. When you find this out, you give them an ultimatum and tell them that they can’t just love you when they want to. They have to be 100% committed to you, or it’s over.
God feels the same way about us. We cheat on Him with sin and flirt with the things of this world. And that grieves Him. But the difference between Him and us is that He never says it’s over. He forgives us for our stupidity and continues loving us. The above verse from Revelation may make God seem like this ticked-off dude, but the fact is that He’s being completely logical. We are brats! We take advantage of His love for us when we cheat on Him with things of this world. God is telling us, “Look, make up your mind on whether you love Me or not. You can’t live this way one second and then another the next. It’s confusing, it hurts and all you’re doing is playing games with My heart.”
God wants our whole heart, every second of every day, and He is with us ALL the time, not just when we want Him to be. Today, let’s have the same heart for the Lord at all times: when we’re on the field, when we’re in the locker room, and, yes, even when we are out in the world.
1. Where are you at spiritually? Are you all-in with God, or are you somewhere in between?
2. Do you feel like you are faithful to God?
3. If not, what do you need to change?
Mark 12:30
Haley Morgan Smith is a recording artist and a veteran FCA Camp worship leader. Check her out online at Myspace.com/Haleymorgansmith [3].