In The Word
Read: Revelation 3:14-22
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 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 the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
“Oh, that you were hot or cold but because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). The church of Laodicea had come to a place of earthly blessings and rest. Nehemiah reflected on what could happen when people have plenty and get lazy. They can end up turning away from God. Moses also warned of this in the book of Deuteronomy. Let me explain why being lukewarm was so offensive to God’s taste. It’s because to be lukewarm is to be useless. In Laodicea, they had an enterprise for making eye salve. Eye salve was made from a process using natural cold water and natural hot water, from a volcano six miles away. The problem was that the hot springs were on the mountain and the cold streams were in the valley. In an attempt to make things easier, they built an aqueduct system to carry the hot water down to the cold water instead of hiking the cold water up to the mountain. The problem was that by the time the hot water made it to the bottom it was lukewarm which made it useless. So when God says, “I’d rather you be hot or cold,” He is saying, “I’d rather you be useful.”
If we are not careful, we can begin to shortcut the processes of God in our lives by trying to figure out an easier way to do things. Be careful, for this can blind you and make you a bad taste in the mouth of God. There are no shortcuts to our relationship with Christ. We must spend the time and effort of getting up, opening the door, and sitting down to spend one-on-one time with our Savior. It’s the only thing that keeps us useful.