As my dementia progressed, I lost the ability to determine such basic things as hunger and thirst. In addition, I lost the ability to be able to push myself to do things just because they were “good for me”! My wife would give me a cup of water, but not being able to tell if I was thirsty, I would refuse it. If she handed me a cup of hot chocolate, however, I wouldn’t refuse! Why? Because the hot chocolate tasted good! The water did not, and I couldn’t reason enough to know that the water was better for me than the hot chocolate!

My poor wife … She had to be very creative in order to keep me hydrated, and who could blame her that once in awhile she got fed up with my refusals and gave up…

Last summer she tried putting ice in my water. That helped. A lot! She would hand me an insulated cup with a straw, full of ice water, and I would drink it. The problem was, as soon as the temperatures began dropping below 20, I didn’t want ice water anymore!

It wasn’t until the early part of the new year that I discovered I liked hot tea. My wife has always given me a steaming cup of hot herbal tea with my breakfast; but then she started giving me hot tea at other times as well. I think she was a little surprised when I never refused it! And I know she was definitely astonished when I actually began … asking for it!

I am happy to report that there are no more hydration concerns in regards to me! I drink 8-10 cups of hot herbal tea every day, and if I don’t get my hot tea automatically, I ask for it! I’ve even learned that when the Keurig machine that most people use for coffee, but we use for hot tea, goes “GRRRRGRRRGRRRRGRRR”, my tea is ready!

Why will I drink hot tea rather than regular water?

It’s because water tastes so much better when it is either hot or cold! When it is room temperature … or lukewarm, as some would call it … all you want to do is spit it out!

The book of revelation uses this exact imagery when speaking about the church of Laodicea: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16 NIV).

You see, the way I see water is how God sees our Spiritual lives! He doesn’t want us to be “room temperature” Christians, or “lukewarm” as the Bible puts it; He wants us to be on fire for Him! He desires that our hearts be filled with passion for the things that He holds dear. He wants us to be “Hot Tea” Christians!

Just what does a “Hot Tea” Christian look like?

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV)

Herein lies our first clue: a “Hot Tea” Christian is obedient to God! It makes sense, really. When we love God, when we are passionate for Him, we will desire to obey Him!

How about this one? “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:3 NIV).

In other words, a “Hot Tea” Christian will do what is right and what is just! Again, these are things that please God, and when we love Him and are passionate about Him, we will desire to do what is right and just!

There are many more, but here is just one more to contemplate: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalms 51:16-17 NIV)

And just what kind of things does God want us to be obedient in? Passionate about? Do in a manner that is right and just, with a humble spirit and a contrite heart?

We are to care for one another! “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV) He wants us to feed the hungry, clothe and give shelter to the cold, visit the sick and those who are in prison, give water to the thirsty! And He doesn’t want us to do this in a “lukewarm” way! He wants us to be passionate about it!

I think another thing right at the top of His list is the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV). God wants us to be so on fire for Him and in love with Him that we witness … all the time! In every word, every action, even every thought!

Let’s all resolve to try to be “Hot Tea” Christians! Children of God who are passionate about obedience, about doing what is right and just with a humble heart, so that we can care about His hurting children enough to be passionate about feeding them, giving them shelter and clothing; and not just physically, but spiritually as well!

Would anyone like some lukewarm water?

Or maybe you would like some Hot Tea instead?

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries