In the book of Revelation, Jesus warns the church of Laodicea that he will spit them out of his mouth because they are lukewarm. What does it mean to be lukewarm? It means to be neither hot nor cold. It is to be indifferent, half-hearted, and apathetic.
Lukewarmness is a dangerous place to be in our relationship with God. When we are lukewarm, we are not fully committed to him. We are not passionate about his love or his ways. We are not willing to put our all into following him.
There are many dangers associated with lukewarmness. First, it can lead to spiritual apathy. When we are lukewarm, we become complacent and no longer hunger and thirst for God. We settle for a mediocre relationship with him.
Second, lukewarmness can lead to spiritual deception. When we are lukewarm, we are more likely to be deceived by the enemy. He will whisper lies to us that make us doubt God's love and goodness. He will try to convince us that we don't need to follow God wholeheartedly.
Third, lukewarmness can lead to spiritual loss. If we continue to be lukewarm, we will eventually lose our relationship with God. He will not cast us out, but he will remove his hand of blessing from us. We will no longer experience his peace, joy, and power.
How to Overcome Lukewarmness
If we are struggling with lukewarmness, there are things we can do to overcome it. First, we need to be honest with ourselves about our commitment to God. Are we truly passionate about following him? Are we willing to put our all into our relationship with him?
Second, we need to renew our love for God. We need to spend time in his Word and in prayer, getting to know him more deeply. We need to allow his love to fill us and overflow into our lives.
Third, we need to get involved in Christian fellowship. We need to be around other believers who are passionate about God. This will help us to stay motivated and on track.
Fourth, we need to take action. We need to start living out our faith in a way that is both visible and impactful. We need to let our light shine for others to see.
Conclusion
Lukewarmness is a dangerous place to be in our relationship with God. But it is not too late to turn things around. If we are willing to be honest with ourselves and take steps to overcome lukewarmness, we can experience the fullness of God's love and blessing in our lives.
Bible Verses on Lukewarmness
Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
James 1:22: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
1 John 2:3-6: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps his word, the love of God is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
How to Overcome Lukewarmness
Be honest with yourself about your commitment to God.
Renew your love for God.
Get involved in Christian fellowship.
Take action.
