“It Sure Is Hot!”

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So 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,…” Revelation 3:15-17

“It sure has been hot!” I can’t argue with that! It has been hot especially compared to recent summers and the long cold winters we have had. But, you know, I thank God for “hot.” Hot provides for a lot of food and also enjoyable vacation weather. I grew up both in Wisconsin and Missouri and have come to appreciate both hot and cold weather, but there is nothing like a really hot day working outside to get a good sweat going!

However, to the contrary, we often like that mild weather. 70-80 degrees with low humidity usually sounds pretty good but think about the many things that would change without this good, hot weather.

There is another kind of “hot” that I am thankful for!

The “hot” of those who seek to serve their Lord with great fervor and commitment. Our Lord speaks the above words directly to the people of Pergamum in the opening letters of the book of Revelation. God does not want lukewarm! He wants those who are on fire with commitment and zeal for His work. People who have:

Seen their sinfulness

Confessed their sins

Received forgiveness for the sake of Jesus

Risen again to a new life of service and mission

Been inspired to follow Him wherever He calls

What joy to see God at work changing lives for Him! To watch Him produce fire in us!

But, alas, we seem to be inclined to the lukewarm?! 

We seem bent on making excuses why we can’t be more committed somehow believing that we can talk God into being convinced that there are more important things in this world than Him.

We see our wealth and have become convinced that we have all that we need and God is simply a pleasant “extra” in our life when we have time.

We seek to convince ourselves that other people and religions really aren’t that bad so that we don’t have to be concerned about their eternal welfare.

All of these, and more, work to create a very complacent, luke warm attitude in us and our church. May God protect us from this and may He and He alone, change us that we may be blazing hot for Him!

O Lord, forgive us, for we have become lukewarm. Wrap us in your forgiveness and inspire us to be “hot” for you! For the sake and the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who gave himself for us that we may live. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Bob Weinhold