Thermostats and Thermometers
In life we often live as either people who can be controlled by our environment or as people who effect our environment. According to Joe Hodowanes, “We all tend to function as either one or the other. One tells about the conditions surrounding it while the other makes a difference in those conditions in the environment where it's located. What most of us would like to be is a thermostat — someone who controls the temperature in our situation. Your family and friends welcome someone who is under control, who doesn't succumb to the stress, who's steady and caring and peaceful. Those thermostat people are rare — and valuable.” Mr. Hodowanes article is about job searching and successful habits. It is an insight that has value.
The question for me is how as a Christian am I to control my environment? This was a question that can be answered from scripture. (Ephesians 5:19-20) “ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To do this in reality can be difficult. It can become a wooden, stiff, forced thing that no one believes. I think we have all seen that; but, the true authentic change is a beautiful and contagious reality. The key is the authentic relationship with Christ.
As I thought about the differences between a thermostat and a thermometer one real difference occurred to me. The thermostat is connected to the power. If you disconnect the thermostat from the source of power it can do nothing. The importance of worship is that it brings me into the presence of God. It keeps me connected. God then changes my attitude, and gives through me the power to live out that authentic attitude.
When difficult times come — and they will; when pressure mounts – and it does; and when people misbehave – as they often do; our response is to turn to God and worship. In this act of worship I rebel against forces that want to make me a thermometer, and God uses me as a thermostat. So here is a psalm, a hymn, a spiritual song that I speak to you today.
Pastor Pat
