Take a moment to reflect and consider your identity in Christ – would you say others see you as more of a Thermometer or a Thermostat for Jesus? As in – do you reflect the environment you are surrounded by or do you set the climate?

Let’s dig in and learn more what the Bible has to say on this topic!

Firstly, let’s start with definitions shall we.

What is the difference?

A thermometer, as you know, takes its cues from the outside world. Bring it into a room and it will let the room determine what the temperature will be.

A thermostat, on the other hand, does the opposite. It sets the mood for the room.

I’d like to say it’s more of an inside job to transform from one to the other. A well known parable comes to mind from the book of Luke with Jesus teaching on the biblical perspective is on this matter.

I believe that a good place to start is to jump to Psalm 139: 23-24.

“Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting”. 

Many in the Body of Christ that I have known over my lifetime have not been aware of who God says they are, or that one must choose to spend quality time with Jesus to know His character through reading His Word intentionally and asking the Holy Spirit to speak through it to us.  The Bible is clear in saying that Jesus loves you – but what else does it say? I don’t believe God’s heart is that His kids spend their precious days on earth ‘playing church’. Now, I know this may catch a few of you off guard – but I believe there is much work to be done building God’s kingdom here on earth and preparing for Jesus’ return for His bride, and the global church I believe could step up into the calling Jesus has commissioned us all into. There isn’t time to be wasted, as we know the days are short and tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us. Paul says to us in his letter to the Ephesians…

Just as in any relationship you wish to build, you need to invest in spending quality time with the other person. This is what God desires for us to do! Here’s a fun acronym I made up to help us think on IDENTITY

I – I am who God says I am

D – Decide to go deeper into His Word

E – Eternal perspective

N – Now is the best time to choose love

T – Time with Jesus is key, God’s Word is alive and active in me

I – Intentionality is being available and interruptible to the Holy Spirit’s promptings

T – Thankful –  we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise

Y – YAHWEH – the breath of God is in you, remember that God is that near to you with your next breath!

So what we believe about God and about ourselves is central and foundational to how we think, act and behave – especially when we find ourselves in an environment that isn’t easy!

Thus, by choosing to be a Christlike Thermostat, I can be the change in an unstable/awkward situation by asking the Holy Spirit for divine strategies, words and wisdom to speak, how to speak, and when not to speak and only listen compassionately.

When we encounter an emotionally charged situation, we can escalate things if we choose to be a thermometer – reflecting back to the person/people what they are doing/behaving/carrying.

As believers and followers of Jesus, we are held to a higher standard than the average citizen as we are ambassadors of Christ, representing the Kingdom of heaven to those around us.

God’s grace is what makes the difference.

You may be asking – How then does this relate to being a thermometer (externally driven)  vs a thermostat (internally driven)?

Being empowered by God’s grace is recognizing and accepting God’s unconditional love for you, thus it empowers you, it transforms you – if we let it. It’s like the Holy Spirit installs special software enabling us to be special agents of change.

“May God’s grace be with you all!” it says in Hebrews 13: 25

God’s Word is ‘grace fuel’ that powers your thermostat with truth, which in turn you can thus choose to ask God to re-wire your mind; to change your self-limiting beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes by renewing your mind. It’s always a choice – each day, you get to make a decision, no one will make this decision for you.

Let’s think back on Acts 2 when120 of God’s people were gathered with expectant hearts, in one accord in the upper room- we see how this shifted the atmosphere releasing heaven to earth. Head over to read the rest of Acts 2 and see what this resulted in for thousands right after this significant event, not to mention centuries later for each of us!

Are we positioned to receive what God has planned for us and then potentially for those around us?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33.

“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God” – 2 Cor 3:5

We are living in a crazy time in history around the world, I’d like to encourage you that you are created to be where you living and that God is trusting you to step out and help shift the atmosphere around you for many are looking for HOPE and that is what we as followers of Jesus carry!

Paul says in his letter to the Philippians -“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” – Phil 4:6-7

So in closing let us all chose to write this out and post it somewhere you’ll read it regularly or even better to memorize it…

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” – Phil 3:14

 Be blessed brothers and sisters 😊