Loving God bless this dear reader with zeal for life, for You, and for Your people. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
We find in the last book of the Bible this warning to one of the churches mentioned there in Revelation, from chapter 3: 15 "I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."
One of the sad things about churches is that many of them, well honestly, all of them, have those who do not know otherwise, but spiritually, they are lukewarm. Jesus says His wish is that we were either cold or hot, not comfortably in the middle serving no one and serving nothing. In terms of food, we can think of very few meals we would like to eat lukewarm; we prefer them hot. God desires our zeal for Him to be the same. In fact, one online site had a 10-question test to see if we were or were not "lukewarm." Here it is:
1 - Do Cares & Worries of This Life Dominate Most of Your Thoughts & Conversations?
2 - Do You Practice Sin on a Regular Basis?
3 - Do You "Love" The Things of This World More Than God's Word?
4 - Are You Too Busy for Jesus? What are Your Priorities?
5 - Do You Use God's Name In Vain? ('Oh My G-d?')
6 - Do You Fail to Pray Earnestly & Pray for the Lost Who Will Spend Eternity in Hell?
7 - Do You Fail to Preach the Gospel on a Regular Basis? OR Do You Hinder Others?
8 - Are You Indifferent About Your Sin? What is Your Attitude?
9 - Do You Seek After Worldly Wealth & Fame vs Seeking First The Kingdom of God?
10-Do You Fail to Obey Jesus, and God's Word Consistently?
While some would hold to all those things and accept that as a sure measure of whether one is lukewarm or not, we get the general idea; when we place God and the things of God in a place lower than our personal desires and wants, we generally will be lukewarm. This is not where God would have us be. Using the above "test" we see that in each, a believer has a role in the world that shows a different and better way to live: Instead of being weighed down with worries and anxieties, we have faith in the One who can see us through all things. Matthew 6:25-34 shows Jesus preaching on worry. And the same holds true for the rest. What does God offer that we have received and yet not preached or shared with others?
May our prayer be that we would shine in places where others have come to expect darkness. May our lives speak of hope and trust when fear and worry dominate the conversations and thoughts of others. May it be said of us that we are on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ!
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, set me on fire for You this day. May my life give witness to the Way that Jesus shared with me. I ask this in His precious Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
