WEDNESDAY'S WORD-WAX COLD - Sadell Bradley- 05/18/16 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

WAX COLD is a biblical phrase used only in Matthew 24:12. The Greek word psugestetai from the root psucho means - to breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold. One scholar describes it as "spiritual energy blighted (spoiled/damaged) or chilled by a malign (evil) or poisonous wind." -(M. Vincent) In Matthew 24, Jesus' disciples asked, "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (vs 3) He answered with a litany of signs, including the destruction of the temple, false messiah's, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, His follower's persecution for His name's sake, personal betrayals and false prophets (4-10) His opening was,"Watch out that no one deceives you." We're not sugarcoating what's about to happen here. Then Jesus said, because wickedness and evil will run rampant, the LOVE of MANY will WAX COLD. Coldness takes on different forms: 1) feelings of fear or horror.  While perfect love casts out or dispels fear, (1 John 4:18) cold love invites fear, and fosters distrust and isolation from others.  2) lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional. "Cold-blooded" means without emotion or pity; deliberately cruel or callous.  In modern day, the phrase, "I'm cool" can mean, "You've disappointed me. It's too late. You're cut off." When we give people 'the cold shoulder,' we reject them or are deliberately unfriendly.  All of these responses are the antithesis of the LOVE that is to identify Christians (John 13:34-35). This God-kind of love is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP as patient, forgiving, and kind through long-suffering, not egotistical or inflated with pride, not jealous or envious, not rude or unmannerly, not easily provoked, overly sensitive or easily angered, taking NO account, grudge or record of the evil done to it, not selfish or insisting on its own rights or way, not rejoicing in unrighteousness but in truth, believing, hoping and enduring ALL things. THIS LOVE never fails. Though sin is multiplying all around us and has even repeatedly injured us... We must watch out that our love doesn't wax cold! Help, LORD!