Lukewarm Faith in a Hot-and-Cold World - Martin Wiles

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

The sign read: House for Rent. Hot and Cold Running Water.

Though laughable now, there was a time when having indoor plumbing was a luxury only the wealthy knew anything about. Water was drawn from a well or creek and carried indoors. Getting hot water meant cutting wood and placing cold water in pots in the fireplace or on a wood-burning stove.

On one mid-August trip through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, my wife and I noticed the leaves on the highest-elevation trees turning. Odd, I thought, this early, but then again, that’s what tree leaves do. As the summer season ended and the daylight hours got shorter, the leaves lost their luminescence and revealed their natural color. The yellows shone through beautifully. 

Christians shouldn’t run hot and cold or change like the leaves on a tree. Nor should we have lukewarm faith in a hot-and-cold world. Paul encouraged the early believers to be steadfast in their love for the Lord and in their work for him. Only by steadfastness would they be able to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and teach people how to be his disciples.

But we also don’t want to burn out doing God’s work—nor does God expect us to. Unfortunately, I’ve known quite a few believers who did. Burnout can come from trying too hard to alleviate feelings of guilt over past sins, from serving with the wrong motives, or from trying to boost one’s self-esteem.

Another entire set of people tends to drop out rather than burn out. Among 18- to 22-year-olds, around 70% drop out of church after graduating from high school. Reasons they give for doing so include life changes, needing a break, moving away to college, work interference, judgmental or unfriendly pastors or church members, a change in their views, or an acknowledgement that they previously only attended to please someone.

God’s work requires determination. The abundant life Jesus offers requires the same. Otherwise, we’ll change like the leaves or run hot and cold like water. The power to remain steadfast instead of becoming lukewarm doesn’t lie within us, but in the power of God’s Spirit. He provides the want that keeps us keeping on—and for the right reasons.

Don’t let a lukewarm faith cause you to turn like the leaves. Serve God with consistency and diligence.

Father, enable me to check my motives for serving you. Then, give me the staying power to serve you faithfully until the end. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Steps of Life - Martin Wiles

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 NLT

Sometimes, steps can lead to uncommon sites. 

Porter’s Creek Trail is popular in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The first mile of the trail is a wide gravel path that passes the remains of several old home sites surrounded by rock walls. In the middle of an odd area, a set of rickety stone stairs leads upward. As I climbed to the top, a small cemetery awaited me—a family cemetery from long ago with mostly illegible headstones. 

The psalmist was confident God directed the steps of his followers. Delightfully, he walks along with his children as they traverse the steps of life. 

Like the steps leading up to the old cemetery, life’s steps can be slippery, uneven, or solid. Had it recently rained, I would have scaled the ancient steps more carefully. The green moss on them would have slowed me down as well. I know what moss on a wet surface can do. Although some may have fallen on these particular steps, the steps have stood the test of time. Hundreds of years later, they still carry visitors to the old cemetery. 

Our life steps will always lead somewhere. When ordered by God, a destination awaits—one that will be brighter than the spot we’re currently in if we let him lead us all the way through. On the way, the steps may take us through valley experiences, desert depths, and mountain peaks, but with God’s guidance, we don’t have to fear any of those experiences. 

Whatever steps God takes us up, we can rest assured he precedes like a shepherd leading sheep to greener pastures. The shepherd has already been there, removed poisonous weeds, and checked for danger. While climbing the steps, God will be beside us. If we slip, he will pick us up. If we twist our ankles, he will mend the hurt. 

God also designs the steps of life to test our character. Numerous biblical stories and countless testimonies by Christian saints relate it. God never concocts steps intended to destroy but to build up and make us stronger spiritually than we’ve ever been before. 

As you climb the steps of life, remember who built them and that God designed them to lead you to a place of stronger character.

Father, I climb with confidence that what awaits me at the top will be better than what I’ve experienced below. 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Road Ahead - Martin Wiles

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go.” Isaiah 30:21 NLT

The road ahead often winds and maneuvers in ways we could never imagine. 

My wife and I were at a retreat in the Tennessee mountains. One morning when we had free time, I invited her to hike on a nearby trail. Moderate in intensity, the trail meandered by farm sites hundreds of years old and through panoramic views of the numerous wildflowers growing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As we trudged along, my wife snapped a picture and said, “Look at the road ahead.” 

Isaiah reminded the people of God’s road before them and how often they had chosen their own roads. Following God’s road would lead to his blessings, but they often chose the more heavily traveled road—the road of disobedience. 

God’s road often has steep inclines. I’ve been on many mountain trails where I had to stop numerous times before reaching the top. Only with periodic rest stops and by guzzling fluids did I finally reach the pinnacle. However, as my wife and I discovered, what goes up must come down. Our return hike was downhill the entire way. 

The road ahead contains unforeseen elements. I had hiked this particular trail sixteen years ago and remembered only scattered images of interesting things along the way to the waterfall at the end. Walking the trail now was like experiencing a new adventure as I anticipated what was next. God doesn’t give us a point-by-point map of where his road will take us—only the assurance he’ll be with us as we travel. 

God’s road is sometimes uneven. This trail was. Some places were flat, but rocks, roots, and washed-out gullies dotted other spots. We slowed down when we approached these areas and chose our steps carefully. Trials and tribulations are parcel to life—some placed there by God to challenge and increase our faith. In those times, we need God’s guidance even more. 

Taking God’s road also puts us in touch with fellow travelers. Porter’s Creek Trail is a popular hiking area because of the plethora of wildflowers. Hundreds of people preceded and followed us. Whatever road God leads us down, he’ll always provide fellow travelers to help us make the journey. 

Regardless of your road, God and others walk beside you. 

Father, I ask you to guide me as I walk the road through the valley, up and over the mountain, and through the wilderness.

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.