this week kasey and i have the privilege of traveling down to ferrum, va and worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ at twin oaks baptist church. each year we go down to visit with pastor covey (terry) and the church body. and each year we come home blessed much greater than we could ever bless them. this church body knows how to, and loves to, worship God!
so a few days ago i got a call from “johnathan fallwell” in lynchburg, va. but due to the southern drrrraaaawwww i knew it was terry. (plus he has this laugh that kind of gives him away when he’s up to something!) after a quick catching up he asked me to learn a song for this coming sunday, “somewhere in the middle” by casting crowns.
i’m usually a little apprehensive when asked to learn songs because everyone has their own tastes and there are some types of music that just turn my stomach…but terry knows me pretty well so i didn’t think this would be too bad. and he said that when they heard this song they thought it sounded like a song i would do.
i thought that was a good thing and then i started looking at the lyrics and got slapped in the face. this song to me talks about being mediocre, luke warm, going at it half way…and it’s speaking of our walk with Christ. which automatically brings one passage to mind…revelation 3:15-17
“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. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (NIV)
this was being written to a church…not to some group of terorrists or some other wicked people group. they had become cofortable in their “Christian” life. and they either didn’t realize it or didn’t care. but we serve a loving and gracious God who continues this letter to the church in vs 18-22…
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (NIV)
i’m not so sure that this song and this passage weren’t sent to me from God as reminders not to become comfortable and “fool” myself or make a fool of myself. i pray that God is constantly working in my life, molding and making me the husband, father, and man that He wants me to be. i pray that you too do not become comfortable, lazy, complacent, lukewarm…whatever you want to call it. allow God to work in you. don’t get caught “somewhere in the middle”!
