“Cold
hands, warm heart”, “That just warms my heart”
I
greatly dislike being cold. How much worse is it to have a cold
heart!
With
so many needs, and so much to do, how do we keep from having cold
hearts toward the Lord and those He has placed around us?
We
keep our bodies warm by being near a heat source, like fire, and
putting on clothing, and covering up with a comfortable blanket. I believe God made the physical world to reflect spiritual realities.
So how can we keep our hearts from being cold? By being near
the “fire” of God, by putting on the humble mind of
Christ, and being “wrapped” in the true Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
Luke
3:16 “ John answered, saying to all, “I indeed
baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose
sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire.”
The
Bible uses fire to describe God's character. In His holiness, he
consumes our sinfulness, refining us, and changing our hearts to
reflect His image as we draw near to Him.
This inward change is
reflected in outward actions. As James 2:14-18 says “What
does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but
does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or
sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you
says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do
not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does
it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have
works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You
have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your
works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Another
way we keep warm, is by putting on clothing. As girls, we especially
like to think about what we will wear, and how it will look to those
around us. I Peter 5:5 and Romans 13:14 tell us what we should be
wearing all the time:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble”
Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
We
are to be “clothed in humility” and to “put on the Lord Jesus
Christ”
Philippians
2:5-8 tells us just how humble the mind of Christ is, that He would
give up His rights, and be obedient to the point of dying on the
cross:
“Let this mind be
in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form
of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but
made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the cross.”
Jesus told His disciples
in Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying,
‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles
seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Don't
worry about what to wear this winter – seek His kingdom and His
righteousness.
The last
we will look at way to keep a warm heart is by being surrounded by
the Comforter.
John 14:15-27 “If you love
Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He
will give you another Helper (the Comforter), that He may abide with
you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him,
for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave
you orphans; I will come to you.
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper (Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Some of
Jesus' last words to His disciples telling them if they love Him,
they will obey Him. Knowing how easy it is for us humans to forget
things, He made a wonderful promise to send the Comforter to remind
us all things that He has taught us. There have been many times in my
life I have been thankful for God reminding me to do something or
correct my attitude towards serving, giving, or speaking a soft
answer.
So as we
move into this chilly season, let's don't let our hearts grow cold.
Instead, let us draw near to the fire, letting our sinful desires be
consumed by His love. Let us be clothed with the humble mind of
Christ, and let us give thanks for the Comforter who guides our
hearts, words and actions.
“O
tidings of COMFORT and joy!”
