Skating By

 November 23, 2024

Saturday

Some people push with one foot and skate on the other. You see that when watching skaters. These aren't the good skaters. They are the ones doing the minimum to stay our there skating. They might as well have a skate board.

Lots of people skate by. Even ministers skate by. They do the minimum to make it look like they are doing something without taking the time to recognize and learn what they really need to do. They are happy because they are still out there. 

Christians skate by too. They come to church when it is convenient. This means they didn't do anything on Saturday and the weather on Sunday is neither raining nor to hot or cold. Heaven forbid that they were made uncomfortable when they came to church. Some of the collect reasons why they don't want to come so often while they are at church. After all, aren't they going to the same heaven even if they didn't attend church?

Another word for skating by is being lukewarm. These people aren't cold or hot. They aren't actively opposing Christ nor or they actively testifying of Christ. They are good. In their minds, they are good enough.

But what did Jesus say about people who are lukewarm?

Revelation 3:15-17 (ESV) ¹⁵  “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Some people have had enough of Jesus. I mean, they get as much of Jesus as they want. They want to go to heaven and they see no reason to do anything else. They give as though they are paupers, serve as though they are handicapped and worship as though they can send worship to the Lord in an email. They do not know of walking with the Lord, being tested by Him nor the joy of His full presence brings. Being filled with the Spirit is a foreign concept. Winning someone to Christ is beyond their grasp.

But this is not you. You have at least spent the time to read this blog. You did so because you want more than to skate by. After salvation, the first step you must take is to make a total commitment to the Lord that when you are asked to sacrifice anyone or anything you will do so for the Lord. You are one who has a quiet time each day to check where you are with the Lord. You pray as one who goes confidently into the throne room of the Lord to bring your requests before Him. You allow the Spirit to fill you completely so that you can be His slave. You see people to come to know the Lord because you are living a life they would like to live for you have joy even when there is no joy in your circumstances.

You are not skating by. You are not lukewarm. You and those like you will again turn the world upside down.