I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish that you were cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, ‘ I’m rich:  I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked,   Revelation 3:15-17  HCSB

This scripture passage is written to the church in Laodicea.  This was one of the seven churches in Revelation that received letters.  This church was described as Lukewarm.  They weren’t cold and useless, but they weren’t on fire for God either.

Here God is talking about Lukewarm Christianity.  I call it having one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom.  With God, we are either hot or cold, we are either in or we are out.  You can’t dabble in Christianity and hope to be victorious.

Now I know all about dabbling in Christianity.  I’ve been there, done that , and got the t-shirt.  I was raised in a home where my mom took me to church every time the doors were open and I thank God that she did.   Proverbs 22:6 instructed parents to train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.  But there was a time in my life when I tried to live my life as a lukewarm Christian.  I loved the Lord and I was going to church a few times a month, but I wasn’t living my life in a way that pleased God.  I was living my life in a way that pleased me.  I didn’t have sense enough at the time to know that there was no greater joy than pleasing God.  But, I’m proud to say that I have finally learned that.

I have finally learned that I have no greater joy than when I serve the Lord and serve others.  I am much happier when I forget about all that I need and focus on helping others to get what they need. I am much happier when I show others God’s love.  I am much happier when I focus on God and not on my problems.

So, let’s think about a few things here.  First of all, if we are lukewarm Christians, God can’t rely on us.  We are led around by our feelings, our emotions and guided by our circumstances.  We are quick to turn to God in a moment of crisis but then when everything settles down, we are right back into our old selfish ways.  We put ourselves first and we are good Christians when it is convenient.  I know, I’ve been there.

But, I can tell you from personal experience that when I put myself last and God first, that my life turned for the better.  I have been through some tough situations since that time, but God has always made sure that I was victorious.  He has always worked all things out for my good.  I know that as long as I put Him first that He will take care of me.

I used to panic when trouble came my way.  I no longer do that, I just pray and trust in God.  I know that there is a reason for everything that I go through.  I know that even if I walk through the fire that He is right there beside me.  I know that He sometimes uses the fire to refine me like gold is refined in fire.  I know that I have no reason to fear.

So to really simplify things, think about water.  The other evening I was walking around the college campus near our home.  It was 92 degrees and really humid.  There are several fountains on the sidewalk and I had to stop a few times during the four mile walk and get some water.  The water is not cooled so it was lukewarm.  When you are that hot, you want ice cold water.  If you are boiling eggs you want boiling hot water.  Lukewarm water isn’t good for much.  As Christians, we can be stuck in the middle or we can choose to be hot or cold.  If you are trying to straddle the fence, just stop.  Choose whether you want to serve God or serve yourself.

If you are still undecided, then why not try serving God with your whole heart.  Give him your all.  Trust in Him to handle the bad times, because believe me they are coming.  When that old devil realizes that you are leaving him and turning to God, he will be really mad.  The devil will do all he can to mess things up for you.  But that’s ok, God beats the devil every time.  Trust God.  He will bring you through the fire.  Just stay faithful.

God doesn’t want your half hearted attempt at serving Him.  He wants you in all the way.  Today, why not commit to God?  Why not trust in Him to handle life’s ins and outs while you focus on serving Him?  I won’t say that my life  is without trouble since I did that.  I will say, however, that no problem has been too big for God to handle for me.

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the greatest commandment is, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  Once we wrap our pretty little heads around this idea, God handles the rest.  So, I encourage you today to give God all you’ve got.  You will be amazed at how He will reward you.

Have a great day!