Lukewarm: Neither Hot Nor Cold

Today's full reading: Revelation 3:7-22

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16 NIV)

Aching fills my heart when I read Christ's rebuke of the church of Laodicea mostly because I can identify clearly with their situation. In the area of the world where I live it is far to easy for someone to ride the fence when it comes to Christianity. They can offer lip service to God - claiming to be a Christian, yet live a life of deceitfulness, hatred, jealousy, and immorality and face little or no earthly consequence.

This, of course, is not true in other areas of the world. Just imagine if on the day you told your family that you believed in Jesus they cut you off totally. What if your whole neighborhood banished you from the community?

Or worse, what if you were physically attacked like these people, who earlier this week paid a serious price for following Christ? I have a feeling that such persecution serves as a catalyst for building genuine faith and keeps people off the fence.

Today, as an act of worship, embrace Christ fully; hold nothing back in your devotion to Him. Pray for strength to be a bold witness for Him today no matter what storm you may face or what price you must pay.

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." (Revelation 3:19-21 NIV)