Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 228 August 13, 2001
Shaving Cream

I stood in the mirror lathering my face in preparation for my morning shave, just as I had done thousands of times before.

I started to wonder: Did the shaving cream really soften my beard and make shaving easier? Or did it simply mark my place?

Being curious, as always, I had to find out. The next morning when I shaved, I didn’t use shaving cream. As long as my beard was wet, the shaving cream didn’t make any difference whatsoever.

All I had been doing in using the shaving cream was marking the place on my face that I hadn’t shaved yet.

I started thinking about the many areas of our Christian walk, where we just “mark our place” during the day or during the week.

Do we sit down to eat and offer a quick grace out of habit? Or do we take a moment of sincere thanksgiving to God for His blessing in our lives?

Is our Sunday worship truly a time of worship? Or is it just a ritual that we go through to help us know it’s Sunday?

The church in Laodicea fell into the habit of just marking their place. Scripture is not clear on what their habits had become, but they had grown lukewarm in their faith.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 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. 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. Revelation 3:14-18 NIV

Have you become lukewarm, just marking your place?

If so, there is hope, because the Lord goes on to say

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." Revelation 3:19-22 NIV

It’s time to wipe the shaving cream off, to stop simply marking your place. He’s at the door eagerly awaiting your return.

Will you answer?

Until next time, may you be encouraged in your faith and know a true passion to seek the heart of Jesus.

God bless.

Kevin