The Lukewarm Christian

In this passage, Jesus is addressing the Church of Laodicea, one of seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. Many scholars believe this church will come at the end of the age, immediately before Christ returns.

The members of this church are neither hot nor cold, wanting the best of the world and of God. Jesus labeled them “lukewarm” and did not look favorably on their attitude.

For those of us in Christ Jesus, we’ve experienced His graciousness at the cross. We’ve received the free gift of eternal life through Jesus’s death and resurrection and have the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

In return, Jesus daily asks us to fight the temptation of being lukewarm. We do this by trusting in His presence, power, and plans to make our hearts His place of lordship and leadership.

The Apostle Paul did this by focusing on the things of eternity during his last chapter of life on Earth.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul’s perspective is a result of God working in his life, and it should be replicated in our walk with Jesus.

The lukewarm heart compromises God’s game plan. As believers we must instead be driven by His perfect love to make our hearts completely His.

In this perfect love, we know God Almighty can only seek our highest good.

This love sent Jesus to the cross and tells us that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

This love enables us to fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

And this love inspires those in Christ Jesus to have undivided hearts that are on fire for our Lord.

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.” –Psalm 86:11-13

Every believer’s driving ambition is to give Him all our hearts, in all we do. Today, let’s resist the temptation to be double-minded, lukewarm, or indifferent.