Hot or Cold But Not Lukewarm

Reading:  Revelation 3

My Verse:  “So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!” (3:16)

Before this verse, the church is told, “I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot.   Would that you were cold or hot!” (3:15).  It is interesting how we are always thinking that no one really knows what we are doing.  We so often want to think that You, Lord God, are not observing our slack attitudes!  And so we behave accordingly.  How we need to be accountable!  How we need to be constantly reminded that You are ever there.  You are omniscient!  You know our hearts every moment of every day.  You know when we are lukewarm.

I never really thought about Your cry to us here, my Lord.  “Would that you were cold or hot!”  The ESV study bible explains this verse.   It states that to be hot or to be cold can be positive.    I really do like a nice cold drink of water, especially on a hot day.  And I certainly do not like lukewarm tea– the hotter the better!  Lukewarm in either case just would not do!  Lukewarm would not be refreshing.  Lukewarm would actually be disappointing. 

Forgive me for disappointing You so often with a lukewarm faith.  Help me Lord God to ever strive to be what You would have me to be.  I sometimes forget who I am – Your blessed child!  I need to live each and every day with that thought foremost on my mind.  It should color all that I do.  It should color how I interact with others, both loved ones and strangers.

You go on in verse 18 to “counsel” me to buy from You “gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”  I cannot get these from my own efforts.  I can only get them through You, through Your grace.

Dear, Lord God, I do not want to be lukewarm.  I want to be rich in Your grace!  I want to be clothed in Your white garments of righteousness!  I want Your salve to clear up and enable my eyes to see You and Your glorious Truths!

“Open my eyes that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law”  (Psalm 119:18).

Dear, Lord God, quicken my spirit that I will live in this richness and safety. 

“He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3).

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12).

Yes, better to be hot or cold but never lukewarm!

Ditat Deus – God Enriches!