CHECK YOUR THERMOMETER! HOT, COLD, OR LUKEWARM?

October 21, 2014

CHECK YOUR THERMOMETER! HOT, COLD, OR LUKEWARM?

Revelation 3:14–22

Michelle Parker

Central Truth

God wants you all in. He calls us to repent and be zealous! The evidence of being all in is our deeds: as we know a tree by its fruit, deeds are the thermometer that displays the degree of our faith in Him.

"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.'" (Revelation 3:15-17)

To the Church in Laodicea

14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

15 ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Christ was WARNING the Laodiceans to not seek value and comfort in their material prosperity. Like North Dallas, Laodicea had flourished as a wealthy city. Believers had become self-satisfied, dependent on material possessions, and hesitant to take a stand for their faith, therefore forgetting God in their overabundance. They were lukewarm and ultimately useless to God.

I was reminded of a stern warning the Lord gave me over 13 years ago as my husband Tripp and I moved to Dallas. He was completing his medical training, and I was experiencing great job success and financial gain. At that time, I was reading Deuteronomy 8:11-14, "Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments . . . lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds . . . multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God . . . ."

In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives, sacrificing our relationship with Him and becoming ineffective and lukewarm Christians. Instead of our deeds being "others-focused," they become "me-focused." When our hearts, will, mind, body, finances, and future are all committed to God and we don't forget, we will remain useful and walk freely in the spiritual blessings and promises of God. When we lose our way and take our eyes off of God (because we will), Christ reminds us in Revelation 3:19 that He loves us, and those He loves, He reproves and disciplines. He urges us to earnestly repent and refocus our minds on loving and following hard after what really matters: other people and Him! I'm so thankful His mercies are new every morning!

1. What is the spiritual temperature of your life at home, at work, and in your community?

2. How much value do you place on money and material possessions?

3. What do your deeds say about the condition of your heart and faith?

4. Do you need to repent and realign your heart to what really matters?