THE LORD'S VERDICT

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).

That seems to be a negative verse with which to begin a devotional thought.  But, there is a human tendency for Christians to become satisfied with their performance as they live their lives.  We think we are good people; we do not commit any gross sins, murdering, committing adultery or stealing.  So, sometimes the Lord has to speak in forceful language to get our attention.  We might not be doing bad, but are we doing good?  I think that is the question that God wants us to answer here.

The cited text was written to the church in Laodicea.  Though the Lord does not have anything good to say about the people who were members of the church, the Bible does not say that they were doing any gross sinning either; they were nice, good people.  There is no record of immorality or the kind of heresy that plagued some of the other churches.  The only thing that is salient about these Christians was that they had little sense of need and little sense of urgency; they blended well into the community without being salt and light.  They were spiritually poverty stricken; complacent and self satisfied.  As a result, Revelation 3:20 pictures Jesus standing at the door of the hearts of these Christians, knocking and asking admission: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.  Isn't it a sad commentary that the Lord has to stand at the door of the hearts of his own people and ask admission?

Do the people of your community know where you stand?  Does Jesus make a difference in how you live your life?  Does your life add flavor and light to the community in which you live?  What is the Lord's verdict about your life?

Grace&Peace;
Tom