Christian Foundations
DEVOTIONAL ARCHIVE
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Half-Hearted Commitment
“ ‘I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!’ ” (Revelation 3:15–16).
Milk is great cold. There’s nothing quite like a cold glass of milk with some cookies. Milk is also good hot. With a little chocolate syrup, it's great. But lukewarm milk? The thought of it is sickening. It just doesn't cut it.
In Revelation 3, Jesus spoke of lukewarm individuals. He said, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!” (verse 15). It’s interesting that Jesus said He would prefer either hot or cold. You would think He would have said, “I would rather you be hot. But if lukewarm is all I can get, it’s better than nothing.”
You would think that lukewarm would be more acceptable to Him, because it is somewhat close to hot. But Jesus was saying, “I don't want lukewarm. I don't want half-hearted commitments. I want you to decide. I want you in or I would rather you were out.”
Here's why. If you're hot, you're in. If you're on fire, if you're walking with God, then you’re where God wants you to be. But if you're cold, hopefully you will at least realize you’re cold and one day realize your need for Christ and come to Him.
But the lukewarm person is in the worst state of all because he is self-deceived. The lukewarm person says, “I go to church. I read the Bible sometimes. I kind of believe in God—when it’s convenient.” That is the worst state of all. What is your spiritual temperature today?
Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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