I WOULD THOU WERT COLD OR HOT.

 

JANUARY 30
 
 
I would thou wert cold or hot.
Revelation 3:15

 

The Lord Jesus hates lukewarmness.
 
He would rather we made no profession

  a religion at all,
  then to profess and not practice his precepts.
 
He loves to see his people zealous,
 
He has done enough for us to make us so, and
  it is a shame to us when we are dull 

   and lifeless in his ways.
 
But it is to be feared, that many professors do not
  realize indifference to be a sin.
 
They think they have professed Christ,
  if they just attend a few duties, and
   creep along certain course, it is enough.
 
They are never hot, and  
  they do not like to see others so;
  but generally prophecy evil of them when they do.
 
Professors of religion,
   Jesus says, “Be hot, or cold!”
 
Be altogether a Christian or
   throw off the profession, lay aside the name.
 
Do not wear the name to dishonor it.
 
Your Saviour was always zealous,
  his zeal surprised both his friends and foes;
  and he said to his father,
   “The zeal of thine house has eaten me up.”
 
Is he not our example in this,
  as well as in other things?
 
Should we not endeavour to regulate our pace by his?
 
He hastened to suffer and longed for his bitter agonies.
 
Well, how shall we be today?
 
Hot, or cold, or Luke one?
 
Jesus, I fain would find
Thy zeal for God in me,
Thy yearning pity for mankind,
Thy burning charity
 
James Smith 1849