Have you ever put something like spaghetti in the microwave then sat down to eat it only to find it had cool spots in it? Isn’t that the worst—when you expect it to be hot and it’s lukewarm? Yuck.
Jesus talks about Christians with lukewarm faith in Revelation 3:14-22:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God [notice the three interesting names for Jesus], says this:
‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Are you lukewarm or are you hot in your faith?
It is easy to convince yourself you are on fire for God when you measure yourself in comparison to other people—particularly lost people. If they are cold enough, all of us might seem hot by comparison. But measuring yourself against the lost is a mistake. The true measure is to measure your life against the standards in the Word of God.
A second mistake is to put the really “on fire” Christians in a different category. To say things like, “well, she is a missionary,” or “he’s going to be a preacher,” or “her dad is a minister.” Those people are just like you. Anyone can be on fire for God—and anyone can be cold or lukewarm in their faith. Those you may be tempted to call ‘All-Star’ Christians are just like you, with the same problems, fears, selfishness, and temptations.
God calls us to take our faith seriously. To work at it. In fact, the Bible actually uses the phrase “work,” when it says to “WORK OUT your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.
Are you working at it? Are you reading the word? Praying fervently? Do you pray “without ceasing” as Paul commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:17?
When you finish spending time with God, do you feel like it was a workout? Or was it more like a stroll? Why not put some effort into it? Do you want your prayers answered? Do you need His help and guidance and wisdom and peace? Sometimes “You have not because you ASK NOT.” James 4:2.
Are you asking?
Are you praying?
Are you reading?
Are you studying?
Are you growing?
Or are you lukewarm?
Ask God to help you WORK OUT your salvation. Ask Him to show you ways to grow in Christ. Ask Him to give you a deep desire for Bible study and prayer. Ask Him to help you take it seriously. Tell Him you don’t want to be lukewarm, but on fire for God—and ask Him what you can do to make that happen.
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Household Words: 