CHECK THE TEMPERATURE

  . . . and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

Mark 4:19-20 NKJV

I’ve never had a desire to cook a frog but, if I did, I’ve been told the way to go about it is to put the frog in cold water and turn the heat up a little at a time until the water starts to boil and catches the frog unaware. By that time – bye, bye froggie.

Do you find life to be much the same? Have you ever stopped to evaluate your surroundings or circumstances and wondered, “How in the world did I get here?” I’ve heard it said many times that, in the life of a Christian, there's no such thing as standing still. We're always going either forward or backward, paddling against the current, or letting it drag us back the wrong way.

In my own life, I've found that it truly is the little foxes that spoil the vine. The cares of this world creep in slowly, subtly, and little by little until we realize the water is boiling and we never saw it coming. When that happens, it’s time to sink or jump ship. In other words—get out of the pot. 

There's a popular song that refers to a “slow fade” and the fact that “people never crumble in a day.” Some call it backsliding. Others refer to it as becoming complacent. Still others will say it's purely a matter of compromise. Whatever the case, it's up to us to guard our hearts and minds, spend time with God, and learn to hear His voice as He gently whispers words of instruction and correction—words that will keep us on the right path.