I enjoy my time in God’s word every morning.  Well, almost every morning.  Sometimes God gets a little personal with me and really convicts my heart.  The last few days I have been spending time in John’s Gospel and today I read through chapter 12.  Here’s what jumped off the page at me in verses 42-43:

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12: 42-43

I got thinking about my life.  I feel like I live a good life.  I have one of those “boring stories” about how I came to Christ.  I wasn’t a drug dealing pimp who completely did a 180 and was rescued from my crazy life by the saving grace of Jesus.  I grew up going to church week in and week out.  Spent a lot of time with the youth group, going on mission trips, and spending time with my accountability group and youth pastor.  I didn’t get into trouble, and just did “good” things.  I have spent a lot of time in my life trying to please people.  I didn’t want to get in trouble because I didn’t want to embarrass my family or have my reputation tarnished.  I wouldn’t follow what I really wanted to study as a college major because I thought everyone expected me to get an engineering degree - and secretly, it made me feel good that people were really impressed that was my area of study because it was pretty hard and people thought I was really smart even though I had no idea what I would do with the degree and I was not passionate about any topic I studied except graduation.  Then I went on to law school with the same outlook.

I have gathered many titles and impressive degrees, but have not stopped to think how those help me to achieve my purpose here on earth.  But rather than stop, get still and listen for God’s will in my life I stay busy and seek after the glory of man with my titles, degrees, and jobs so the world won’t reject me.

I have been pretty lukewarm towards God my whole life even though I have tried to be good and do good, and that scares me.  Jesus said to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3: 15-16:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

My being good only impresses man.  It actually makes God sick.  My prayer is that I will be hot for the things of God and fulfill the mission and the passion he placed me on earth for.  Are you hot, cold or just lukewarm?  While no one is perfect, join me in striving for the glory of God in all that we do.