A thermometer changes its temperature with the environment. A thermostat sets its temperature and then influences the environment around it.
Far too many of God’s people are like a thermometer. When it gets hot around them, their mercury goes up too. When it gets cold around them, they get that way too. When it gets mean and nasty…they do too, boring… they do too, exciting…dry…they do too.
But God designed us to be more like a thermostat. Our temperature is set by the Holy Spirit in union with our spirit on Love, Joy, Peace… When the temperature is hot around us, we cool things down; when it is cold, we warm it up…. We influence the environment rather than reflect it. Jesus called this being His witnesses in the world.
How to switch from being a thermometer to becoming a thermostat.
· Get new “mercury,” by receiving a new heart. When you receive Jesus Christ He gives you His Spirit. He lives in you, with you, through you, as you, in the world around you. He reflects the Father, not the world.
· Keep your mind stayed on the Lord by staying in His Word each day. As you keep a verse in your mind and review it throughout the day, your “setting” will remain on Him.
· Keep your “filters” changed by spending time with God each day in prayer, in His Word, and by serving Him. Our lives get clogged with the world by just living in it, but time with God will keep the filters clean and unclogged.
· Be obedient to the Lord rather than to the world, the flesh, or the devil. As you obey the Lord, His Life is experienced by those around you.
No one ever walks into a cool house on a hot day and talks about how wonderful the thermostat is. But they will talk about how wonderful air conditioning is. As you walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, those around you will experience Him and will praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Well said. Good comparison!
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