Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Some things are best served either hot or cold. Take for example coffee and milk, they both taste great hot or cold but when they are lukewarm they taste disgusting. Imagine forgetting that you had left the milk out and then drank it at room temperature- you’d probably spit it out. The same is true with lukewarm coffee.
In today’s passage, Jesus is not saying He wished you either lived for Him (hot) or served the devil (cold). Rather, Jesus is saying He wished you would serve Him as either being a cool refreshing drink or as a hot beverage that warms the soul. If you are neither hot nor cold Jesus is basically saying, “You make me puke!”
Be hot or cold for Jesus, but never be lukewarm; the double-minded life is a wasted life.
Here is a short list of the things the Bible teaches that cause people to become lukewarm; (1) Unrepentant Sin: All sin should be repented of immediately and not willfully repeated (Hebrews 10:26-27). (2) Neglect of Spiritual Growth: If you’re not growing, you’re dying, so keep growing in the things of God (2 Peter 1:5-9). (3) Lack of Spiritual Disciplines: For example; prayer, worship, evangelism, Christian fellowship, discipleship, acts of charity, accountability and study of God’s Word. Spiritual disciplines are a must for every believer to please God. They should be done often and consistently. If you stop doing them you will become lukewarm (Revelation 2:5).
The deceitfulness of being lukewarm is dangerous because most people who are lukewarm think they are fine. The reason is because the very nature of becoming lukewarm is gradual- it happens very slowly. First comes the neglect of God’s commands, then second, the commands are replaced with man’s opinions, and third, the heart is deceived into believing it is in a similar place as it was before. The biggest lie the lukewarm person tells himself or herself is, “I’m fine just the way I am.”
However, what has actually happened is that the lukewarm person has traded the precious things of God for the defiled things of this world. Jesus said in Revelation 3:17-19 to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, “17 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. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Therefore, don’t let your heart be deceived and hardened by sin’s deceitfulness- stay in love with Jesus and obey His commands (John 14:15).
John Bunyan said, “One word spoken in faith, is better than a thousand prayers, as men call them, written and read, in a formal, cold, lukewarm way.” We should never settle for anything less than giving God our best. God doesn’t want our leftovers, He deserves our first fruits. And we shouldn’t try to live for God with one foot in the world and one in His Kingdom. Jesus is either Lord of all our life or not Lord at all.
Are you lukewarm? If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for being lukewarm. Please remove all the sin and compromise from my life and make me pleasing to you. Set my life on fire so the world can watch me burn for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Reflection
Are you hot or cold for Jesus or are you lukewarm?
Action
- Repent if you have allowed yourself to become lukewarm.
- If you have been lukewarm or headed in that direction, pray for God to show you the things He wants you to do.
- Ask Jesus to make you effective and pleasing to the Father everyday of your life!
One Year Reading Plan
Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus 1:1-16, Psalm 97:1-98:9, & Proverbs 26:13-16. Click here to read online.
