The Whistling Kettle

Do you have one of those whistling tea kettles?  Putting the kettle on the stove and leaving it to do some other thing is no problem because the kettle will let you know when the water boils.  The whistle sounds when the water boils and the steam escapes.

Many times, God’s people have found themselves in hot water.  The three Hebrew young men in the book of Daniel found themselves in a fiery furnace.  Did they scream or shriek in fear?  No, they simply expressed their confidence in God when the heat was turned up.  Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into the dungeon of a Philippian prison.  Their feet were fastened in stocks, yet something happened when the heat was turned up.  At midnight they prayed and sang praises to God.  The steam of praise escaped from their lips.  Another time the apostles were arrested for preaching in the name of Jesus.  They were beaten and threatened to stop preaching.  When they were released, Acts 5:42 tells us: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ”.  When the heat of persecution was turned up, the steam of the gospel escaped from their lips.  When Stephen was being stoned for his faith, his prayer included forgiveness to his murderers.

I wonder what escapes from our lips when we find ourselves in hot water.  Many of us will moan and complain when pain wracks our body.  Some will get bitter or angry when they experience some kind of trial.   We may even say some less than godly words when attacked by others.  When the heat is turned up what comes whistling from us? 

All of us will find ourselves in hot water sooner or later. What comes out of us is determined by what is inside of us.  How strong is our relationship with the Lord?  What kind of steam comes from our tea kettle?  Praise in the midst of pain?  Peace when the heat is high?   May we use our difficult times as opportunities to share the gospel.