Praise and Worship, Hot and Cold

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving ...
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For He is our God.
~ Psalms 95:1-2,6-7 (NKJV)

"To the ... church at Laodicea write: '... You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. Therefore, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of My mouth.' "
~ Revelation 3:15-16 (author)

O put my tears into Your bottle ...
~ Psalms 56:8 (MKJV)

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You.
~ Psalms 63:1 (NKJV)

Laodicea had no water source. Its aqueducts brought warming water from the Hierapolis 95-degree hot springs, and refreshing water from the Colossae snow runoff. Otherwise-satisfying hot and cold waters were a distasteful lukewarm by the time they reached Laodicea.

Jesus expressed a desire for either hot or cold. It is commonly thought "cold" refers to the heart frigid to God, and such is desirable because it makes for a more needy convert. But because Jesus addresses those of His church, some think "cold" means something good in believers.

The Lord is no doubt warmed by zealous praise and thanksgiving filled with songs, joyful shouts, and uplifted hearts and hands. Perhaps the cool waters He finds refreshing are tears shed by a heart broken by that which breaks God's heart, by sweet communion with His Word and Spirit in early morning's chill, or by His child bowed low upon cold ground in worship.

Rock of our salvation, no fire of mortal praise is sufficient for You. YHWH our Maker, we cannot bow low enough before Your exalted throne. Teach our hearts to make both praise and worship which is pleasing to You.

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