The Joy of Glory

Revelation 3:14-22 (click here)
…because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me 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. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.  (Revelation 3:16-20)

Reflection
I use hot water every day to make coffee.

I use cold water every day as the most refreshing way to quench my thirst.

But lukewarm/room temperature water?… Ain’t nobody got time for that!

The city of Laodicea knew all about the refreshing uses of cold water and the medicinal uses of hot water springs, but God said their faith was like tepid water that isn’t good for anything. What made their faith Lukewarm?

They had become dependant upon themselves and their own riches and resources! They didn’t need anything from anyone, including God! What made their faith lukewarm and pointless was that it was no longer placed in God… it was in themselves!

They had shut God out of the church! And so he stands at the door and knocks.

I wonder how many churches are in this situation today? I wonder how often we shut God out by no placing our faith in him, but in our own abilities, strengths, and strategies. I wonder if he stands at the door of our church and knocks.

Has our faith become lukewarm and pointless because it is not being placed in God, but in ourselves? Do we need to heed the warning that the Lord is about to spit us out of his mouth in a similar way to how we have shut him out of the church?

O may we hear the merciful sound of his knocking… for in it there is a promise… “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

He will come in and forgive! He will come in and make our lukewarm faith like cold refreshing waters… or like hot medicinal waters… he will fill our faith with powerful purpose for it will now be placed in the only one who is truly powerful… him!

Behold he stands at the door and knocks! May we not lock him out with lukewarm faith!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.