“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Matthew 25:40 ESV
I think it is obvious to all of us that there is plenty that is wrong and broken about our world. We can see the big plights that cause pain and suffering across our planet; poverty, illness, hunger, and injustice readily spring to mind. In fact, these are such large problems that we can become numb to them because we believe that there is no way in which our meager efforts could possibly make a difference.
Unfortunately, this can relegate us to a position where we become comfortable “sitting on the bench” when the game is going on all around us.
Our eyes can be so drawn to these issues that destroy on a global scale, that we miss the needs that need to be met all around us. We think we can’t do anything about the global issue, so we don't address any issue. Even those right in our backyard; which we may be perfectly capable of attending to.
In short, we become lukewarm. Yes we believe, but our faith is rarely put into action besides the minimum that is required of us. Yes we are Christian, but people would struggle to point out ways in which they know that outside of seeing us occasionally in the Sunday service. This is a pitiable place to reside. If we remain lukewarm, we are robbing ourselves of the full life that Christ came to give, and we are robbing God of glory that is rightly His by failing to produce the fruit we are capable of.
“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.”
Revelation 3:15-16 ESV
The antidote for being lukewarm is simple; get in the game. How? We can find a need and meet it. That is what we heard from our most recent podcast guest Pastor Paul.
Can we donate our time and money to efforts right here in our local community? Absolutely. Can we donate our gifts? Surely. There are always needs we can meet.
Even more simply, we can talk to people; smile at people. We can make people feel seen and heard. We never know what someone is dealing with behind the scenes, and even small acts of kindness and compassion can be absolutely life changing.
If we love well, like Pastor Paul, and pray for God to show us ways to meet needs and get in the game, He will gladly oblige, and be thrilled that we are getting warmer!
Know that while we are limited, we have an unlimited God and He wants to work through us. We just have to Get In The Game!
Listen here or wherever you get your podcast - https://www.astrongerfaith.com/home-1/episode/4b30dd9c/in-the-game-pastor-paul-palmer