May the Word of God be like a refining fire burning away the dross and like a healing flame coterizing our wounds – not as something far away to be wondered at over how it is working in the life of another, but close, near, dear to us, and active in our lives.
May the Living Waters be like a bubbling hot spring that cleanses and disinfects and kills bacteria and disease or as a cold stream down from the mountaintop that refreshes and renews – not something still, dead, stagnant, putrid and lukewarm of no real use at all.
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
Revelation 3:15-19 NLT
Are we more comfortable laying around in the complacency of the lukewarm waters, away from the fires that refine and heal?
Do we let the trials of this life choke out any evidence of godliness that we hoped to claim and mimic under our own strength — instead of presenting ourselves humble, destitute, and fully surrendered to Christ, following Him gratefully and fearfully and faithfully into the fiery trials and see Him prove Himself faithful and true?
So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result.
PHILIPPIANS 2:12-16 AMP
Harold J. Ballinger 