Like water, faith is refreshing

I forgot to drink water this weekend.  I didn’t spend much time outside, so I didn’t think it would bother me a whole lot.  I stayed in the shade for the most part when I was outside, but I kept forgetting to drink water.  Then I reached for the bottle that had been sitting in my motorcycle saddle bags.

I wanted a cold drink of water; I ended up with a 100 degree Fahrenheit squishy bottle of water.  Apparently, water bottles in a black saddle bag when it is 80 plus degrees outside end up warm.  I grabbed that water bottle with my gloves on, twisted off the top and took a couple big swigs.  I would be lying if I told you I spit it out.  The water was warm, but I choked it down.

When you get to the point of needing a drink more than caring about its temperature you are definitely thirsty.  That is where I ended up on Friday, and again on Saturday.  There are times throughout scripture where water is mentioned, more often than not it is surrounding a spiritual lesson that needs to be taught to the people.

Water is used to cleanse the earth through a flood with only Noah and his family surviving.  God provides water to the Israelites in the desert, even as they grumbled.  God withheld the water from Israel for three years then Elijah prayed and the rain came forth.  Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, turned water into wine, and walked on water.  His final lesson to us on water can be seen in the book of Revelation in chapter 3.

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see

The lesson Jesus gives us is written to the church in Laodicea.  They had relied on their own strength, abilities, and comfort rather than upon God.  They had abandoned the truth of God’s words and had become lukewarm in dealing with each other.  Rather than pointing out sin, they allowed it to continue.  Rather than trusting God, they trusted their own finances.  Rather than recognizing their need for a savior, they relied on their own status in the church to assure them of salvation.

We are called to make a difference in our communities, to proclaim God’s truth in love with compassion and respect.  We are called to share our burdens with one another, bearing the trials of this life with grace and mercy.  God is at work do not be lukewarm about anything, but rather reveal your refreshing faith in God to the world.