STAYING WARM DURING COLD DAYS

“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” - Jeremiah 23:29

I have a confession to make. I don't like winter weather. I don't like the frigid cold. I don't like driving on slick roads. Although a fresh coating of snow is beautiful to look at, it isn't fun to travel through.

As I write this, we are bracing for an arctic blast of cold air. Such weather makes me mindful of those who are homeless and living on the streets. Some elderly folks can't afford to pay extra heating costs. Some winter storms cause power outages, which may keep some residents from heating their homes.

Spiritually speaking, we are in cold days right now. The lukewarmness of 20^th century Christianity has eroded to a point of spiritual coldness here in the 21^st century. We are living in an age of spiritual compromise, heretical teaching and superficial living. While a lost world is dying in the cold, the church has little heat available as a refuge for freezing souls.

It doesn't have to be that way. We can stay warm, even hot, while living in this cold world. We used to hear of saints who were, “on fire for God.” These days, church members are more like Peter, who warmed himself by a fire as the Lord was being tried. Far from the fire, we've gotten used to the cold.

How can we stay warm during these cold days? Let me suggest a few things.

1. STAY NEAR THE FIRE

First of all, stay near the fire. If you have a fireplace in your home, you know that the closer you stay the fire, the warmer you remain. The same thing is true of us as Christians. Stay near the fire. The Lord said, “Is not my word like as a fire?” You can't stay hot if you stay away from the fire. Open your Bible and read it.

2. STOKE THE FIRE

Secondly, keep the fire going. God's Word is like a fire. It is good to read the Bible daily. It is even better to believe what you read and obey it. Obedience to God's Word keeps the fire stoked in your soul.

3. SPREAD THE FIRE

Finally, spread the fire. Consistently share what God is doing in your life. Give the Lord all the praise. Don't be content just to have the fire in your own soul, ask God to use you to spread the fire to others. God may use you as a catalyst to start a mighty fire that engulfs your family, your workplace, your community and the world.

Get your Bible, open it up, read it, believe it and obey it.

That's how you stay warm during cold days.