CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 726

“Lukewarm”

Rev 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. … 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 him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on is throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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An allegorical story is told of a man who had half of his body in a heated oven and the other half in a freezer compartment. When asked how he was feeling, the man stated just before he died: ‘On average, I’m OK’. Silly as it is, this story illustrates the point that being average is not necessarily an indicator of goodness.

Being lukewarm, neither hot nor cold is also not necessarily a good thing as is evident from our reference Scripture. When we come to believe that being a Christian means that ‘I’m no worse than the other guy’ we have become lukewarm in our relationship with Jesus. When we believe that the ‘good things we do offset our occasional ‘bad’ things so that ‘on average, we’re OK’ then we are about to be spit out of the mouth of the Lord.

Jesus wants no-compromise, fully obedient, fully committed, passionate disciples. Jesus does not want average Christians measured against the corrupt moral standards of society. Jesus wants Christians who earnestly seek to measure up to His standard, the standard of the Word of God.

One stumbling block that tends to average out our fervor for the Lord is that of material wealth.

The Laodiceans were a prosperous people with fertile land and good grazing ground for their sheep whose raven-black wool was famous. Because of their prosperity Laodicea became the center for the region’s financial operations and banking. And also because of their prosperity the people became lukewarm in their faith. They began to trust in their possessions and material comfort and over time withdrew from God, foolishly believing that they had no need of Him. Sound familiar?

What temperature would the Lord say you are: hot, cold, or lukewarm?

Are you content with being an average Christian?

Were you closer to the Lord during a time of your life when you had less material possessions?

Pause and reflect on the words of the Lord to the church in Laodicea. Open the door to His knocking and renew the passion of your faith and relationship with Jesus.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God