A FROG IN THE KETTLE

“I know where you live – where Satan has his throne.
Yet you remain true to my name…”
(Revelation 2:13) 

I’ve been told that if you place a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will immediately leap out to escape the danger of the hot water.  However, if you place a frog into a kettle of water at room temperature, it will be comfortable with its surroundings and will remain in the water.  Since the frog’s survival instincts are geared to detecting sudden changes, you can now begin to increase the temperature of the water very slowly and the frog will stay content in the water, completely unaware of any danger.  Continue to turn the temperature up until the water is boiling and the poor frog gets cooked – content, but dead.

I wonder how often the same thing happens in our spiritual lives.  We receive Jesus as Savior, start going to church and Bible studies, and settle in to our new environment – content and comfortable.  Then as the world around us changes very gradually, we get sucked in and begin accepting the world’s standards and compromising our own moral and spiritual standards.

The third church of Revelation (Pergamum) had that problem.  They lived in a very pagan society, and somehow got sucked in.  They began accepting Satan’s lies fed to them by the pagan culture in which they lived and they compromised their faith.  So Jesus had some strong words for them.  (Rev. 2:12-17)

Sometimes it’s difficult to discern right from wrong today.  And sometimes it’s very easy to compromise our faith.  Don’t let it happen to you!  Remain true to Jesus’ name.  Here are three steps to remaining true and faithful to Jesus… 

• Read God’s Word – Know the truth & the truth will set you free!
• Recognize Satan’s lies.
• Repent of compromise.

The world around us is changing all the time.  The standards of righteousness are softening gradually and constantly.  Don’t be a frog in the kettle.  Jump out of the kettle and be counted for Jesus Christ!

 Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Word, the Bible.
Because You are absolute Truth, Your Word is truth, as well.
May Your Holy Spirit guide me into the truth of Your Word,
and may Your Word always guide my daily life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

WHEN IT’S NOT EASY BEING A CHRISTIAN

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…
Be faithful, even to the point of death,
and I will give you the crown of life.”
(Revelation 2:10)

When we think of persecution, we usually think of the early church when Christians were imprisoned, thrown to lions, and beheaded.  Or, we may think of Christians during the Reformation era when many of the Reformers were burned at the stake.  But, persecution is still a reality today.  According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights today solely because of their faith, and over 175,000 Christians are killed for their faith every year.   This is primarily in Muslim and Communist countries.  But persecution of Christians is on the rise in America today, as well.

When Jesus wrote his postcard to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2, He identified 4 different forms of persecution…

• Poverty – from Christians losing their jobs because of their faith
• Slander – ridicule, mocking, insults, and false accusations
• Imprisonment
• Death

Granted, in America we may not face imprisonment and death for our faith at this time, but you may suffer persecution on the job (lack of promotions or loss of jobs) and through slander.  Even though tolerance is the politically correct doctrine taught in schools and workplaces today, it just doesn’t seem to apply to Christians.  Our culture is increasingly anti-Christian.  So, how do we endure persecution and suffering for our faith?  Jesus gave two words of encouragement in Revelation 2:10…

(1)   Don’t be fearful! – Keep looking up!  Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross on your behalf!

(2)   Do be faithful! – Keep looking ahead!  Remember, the temporary suffering we endure on earth pales in comparison to the eternal glory awaiting us in heaven.

Heavenly Father,
Thank-you for Jesus who suffered and died on the cross.
I consider it a joy to suffer for His name.
May others see in me the reality of my faith in You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REKINDLING YOUR FIRST LOVE

“..You have forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent and do the things you did at first.”
(Revelation 2:4-5)

Do you ever get so busy with all the stuff of life – work, school, kids, appointments, projects, etc. – that you find yourself neglecting your spouse or your kids?  It must be time for a date!  Or a weekend away!  You may need some time to just get re-acquainted; some time to visit; some time to rekindle the spark!

It can happen in your Christian life, too.  Sometimes we get so busy with life – even good things – that we neglect Jesus.  It may be time for a date with Jesus; a night with only Him and no television.  Or, you may even need a weekend away; not for personal pleasure, but to rekindle the spark in your relationship with the Lord.

It can even happen in churches.  Churches can also get so busy with programs, and services, and various ministries that we forsake our first love.  People get so busy “doing” that we neglect just “loving” Jesus. That’s what happened to the church in Ephesus.  So, John relayed three words from the Lord to encourage them to rekindle their first love. 

• Remember – what was it like when you first fell in love with Jesus?
• Repent – change!  Cut out some of the busyness!  Re-evaluate your priorities.
• Repeat – do some of those things you did when you first fell in love!  Start dating again!

Those three words are good advice for a marriage that’s drying up.  But, they’re also great advice when you find your relationship with Jesus going stale?  Is it time to re-kindle your love-relationship with Jesus?

 Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for getting so busy with the stuff of life
that I neglect what’s most important – You!
I need your guidance as I re-evaluate my priorities
and rekindle my love-relationship with You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BRING A FRIEND

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him,
‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ).
And he brought him to Jesus.”
(John 1:41-42)

I was 25 when we had our first child.  I remember it vividly.  It was a Saturday night.  My uncle was spending the night.  But after he went to bed, we went to the hospital.  Joanna was born on Sunday morning – I believe around 6:00 am.  I was an Associate Pastor at the time, and I was supposed to teach our youth Sunday School class that morning and lead our worship service in church.  I’m sure everyone would have understood if I skipped, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to announce the birth of my first child.  I was so excited, you couldn’t shut me up.  I had to tell everyone the good news!

Does the word “evangelism” scare you?  Does it make you want to run and hide?  It doesn’t have to.  Think of it as simply sharing the “good news” of Jesus Christ.  When Andrew first met Jesus, he was so excited he ran and told his brother, Peter; and brought him to meet Jesus.  A couple verses later, when Philip met Jesus, he was so excited that he brought his friend, Nate, to meet Jesus.  That’s evangelism.  You don’t have to be a “Billy Graham” or a “preacher” or a “salesman.”  Just invite people to meet Jesus.

Here’s a simple two-fold strategy for outreach we can all practice:  (1) Be a friend, and (2) Bring a friend.  We simply encourage you to invite your friends to come with you to church where they can meet Jesus.  It’s really quite simple…

• Invite them to come
• Invite them to come back
• Invite them to come to Christ

But, it all starts with prayer.  Most of the cell phone companies have a “My Circle” plan or a “Fave Five” plan.  You can call 5 or 10 of your “faves” free, no matter what company they use for their own cell phones.  I encourage you to have a “My Circle” Prayer plan.  You should have at least 5 unchurched friends, family-members, neighbors, co-workers, or acquaintances that you pray for regularly.  Then, look for the right opportunity to invite them to come.  Bring a friend with you to meet Jesus. 

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gracious gift of eternal life.
Thank you for Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for my sin.
Give me a burden for my circle of unchurched friends
that I might invite them to meet Jesus, too.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.