Neither Hot Nor Cold

Scripture:

Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 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. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Devotional:

Have you ever taken a drink of ice tea only to have it lukewarm and tepid as you drink?  Or have you ever taken a drink of coffee only to have it mediocre at best not hot or cold just blah?   Few things are worse than getting a glass of nice cold milk only to find that it is at room temperature, yuck.  There are so called Christians who are just that, lukewarm.  They are neither hot nor cold but just sit on the fence tepid and lukewarm. 

What is it to be hot or cold?  Think of hot water to sooth you in a bath, or to clean dirty dishes with.  Hot water can be used to make a nice cup of hot tea.  Just add ice and you get a great cup of ice tea. Ice-cold water is refreshing to drink on a hot sunny day.  Cold water is great to cool down with.  It is good to be either hot or cold.  Being lukewarm is another matter.

Some of us start off strong but peter-out and never finish what we start.  Too often we as Christians sit on the sidelines thinking that someone else can do it.  We think that someday we will get around to it.  The problem is I have never found a round to-it.  Tomorrow never comes and things don’t get done.  We are neither hot nor cold but just mediocre.  Jesus warns us not to be mediocre.  He implores us to repent.  He is knocking on our doors seeking to come in.  But He will not intrude or force himself.  He will politely wait until we invite Him in.  It is time that we warm up and set our hearts on fire for Christ.  We cannot wait for someone else to get to it for us.  God is calling us to action.  He is asking us not to just be that Sunday Christian who only goes to church but fails to have a meaningful relationship with Him. 

Take inventory of your life.  Ask yourself if you are lukewarm, hot, or cold.  Don’t just give a brief thought.  Take a few minutes, or more, to really think about your relationship with Jesus.  You cannot afford to be that room temperature glass of milk or tea.  It is not healthy for you to be that lukewarm cup of coffee or hot chocolate.  Instead make yourself become that piping hot cup.  Look into what interests you.  What is that gets your blood pumping just thinking about it?  Once you discover what that is start looking how you can use it to Glorify God.  How can you take what you are passionate about and use it to reach others?  When we find what we are passionate about and use it we can become a Christian on fire for Christ…