Revelation 3:16-17
Thoughts from Katie Fox
Dive Deeper
“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.”
Revelation 3:16-17
Behind the Scenes
I love coffee. Most of the time, I drink hot coffee, and I like it with steam vapors coming off the top. There are certain times, however, when I am hot and decide to go for an iced coffee. In that case, I love the coldness of the wonderful beverage as I drink it. One thing that I don’t like at any time is coffee that is in between hot and cold, or lukewarm. I want to spit it out. I dislike it almost as much as unsweet tea. In today’s passage, Jesus reveals that he feels the same way about believers who are neither cold nor hot in their faith.
In this section of Revelation, Jesus is delivering messages to seven churches in Asia Minor or what is today the country of Turkey. For the church in the city of Laodicea, Jesus points out that they practice a faith that lacks true conviction and zeal. The people of this city claim to be Christian, but their lives do not bear evidence of this belief, and they appear no different from the unbelievers that surround them. These people thought they were okay because they had abundant possessions. Focusing on material things, they blinded themselves to their spiritual poverty. They were wretched (dominated by sin), pitiful (brought low by sin), blind (unable to see their sin), and naked (helpless in their sin).
People that do not believe in Jesus Christ are cold in faith. They may be misguided about God but the lack of delusion about their belief often makes a good starting point for God’s miraculous work of salvation. On the other end of the spectrum, people who are hot in their faith open themselves to God’s work on their heart and in their lives. Empowered by His Spirit, they live humbly before Him loving and serving others. Lukewarm believers see themselves as walking with Jesus, but they possess hearts that are closed to His guidance. Thinking they are okay with God and distracted by the things of the world, they stagnate and become like a stale three-day old cup of coffee left in the corner of your kitchen.
A question all of us needs to ask is what is the temperature of my faith?
Make it Real
Do you think you are okay with God because you have food, shelter, and possessions? Do you think your faith is adequate because you go to church, donate to charity, and promote the ‘right’ causes? Does your life look different from unbelievers? Do you view your relationship with God the same way you do with a close friend or family member? Do you get as excited over the work of God as you do a new ATV, a sports victory, that trip to the beach, or that moose or salmon filling your freezer? How hot are you for the Kingdom of God?
These questions are not meant as a legalistic guilt trip. You do not earn your salvation and you cannot lose God’s love for you. However, when you have a hot faith, you have a deep loving relationship with God. You don’t pray, read the Bible, go to church, and tithe to earn God’s love but as fruit of a deep relationship that fills your soul more than any possession, career, or earthly person ever could. Jesus is always ready for you to deepen your relationship with him. As He states later in this passage, He is at the door of your heart knocking. Get on your knees and pray to Him and open that door.
Johnny Spence
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Jesus, I need a deep relationship with you more than anything else in this world. Help me open the doors of my heart to you and let me elevate you above all the things of this world. I want a hot faith, Lord. Thank you for all you have given me, Amen.