Lukewarm, blah, ugh . . .

While reading “Switch on Your Brain” and other books, I’ve sensed the voice of the Lord saying, “Listen to me” and having portions of His Word pop into mind. In many cases, His Word affirms the words of the book but not always. I’m thankful for these reminders because I want to think God’s thoughts and not be side-tracked by human ideas that are not aligned with Him.

The last church to receive a letter from Jesus was in Laodicea. He did not commend them. His rebuke is sharp and yet not without hope:

“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, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:14–22)

This rebuke would have been especially meaningful for two reasons. In their feasts as well as in their religious sacrifices, people at that time drank what was either hot or cold—never lukewarm. Besides that, Laodicea had their water piped in from a city a few miles north. By the time the water reached them it was lukewarm.

Jesus was rebuking their contentment with material wealth while being oblivious to their spiritual poverty. He used strong words to describe them. His reference to gold was another way of saying that the gold they enjoyed was not the best wealth. He also pointed to what they wore, beautiful clothes but they needed the white robes that symbolize righteousness to cover them. This was another meaningful rebuke because wool was a major product of the area and Laodicea was noted for a black garment made of black wool. Jesus also exhorted them to put His salve in their eyes. A medical school in Laodicea offered a salve to heal common eye troubles, but this church needed spiritual sight.

I am aware of modern churches that are unconscious their spiritual needs. They are happy with beautiful buildings and whatever else money can buy but without fellowship or genuine wealth. Their value systems are worldly, not godly. This letter appeals to them to open their doors and let Jesus in. Intimate fellowship with Christ means ruling with Him and sharing His victory. Lukewarm hearts miss much of God’s blessing and need to repent.

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Lord Jesus, from these letters You encourage me to watch out for these dangers: losing my first love, being afraid of suffering, doctrinal defection, moral departure, spiritual deadness, not holding fast, and becoming lukewarm. These things happen to churches but also to individuals. Someone once said they would rather burn out than rust out. I tend to think that way too yet need to remember to rely on You, not try to do anything (great or small) in my own strength. As I begin this day, my prayer is for guidance, wisdom, and reliance on You in everything that You ask of me. Keep me filled with Your Spirit and with thoughts that come from Your heart.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- being more aware of my thoughts and how they affect my actions.

- knowing that I have eternal life.

- realizing how many times I live as if I don’t.

- the ladies who clean my house once a month.

- peace.

How full is my jar?

A destitute widow was in financial distress. Her creditor threatened taking her two sons as slaves to cover her bills. She cried out to the prophet, Elisha.

Elisha was a smart man. Instead of giving her money or taking up a collection, he asked her what she had. She said, only a jar of oil. This was no ordinary cooking oil. It was perfumed, an oil used to anoint the body.

I smile as I think how typical of us women to hang on to something like this, even when there is no food or money to pay the rent. The oil may have bought her another meal, but she didn’t sell it. It turns out that this was a good thing.

Elisha told her, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; the pour it into all those vessels and set aside the full ones.”

Elisha left and she did what he told her to do, odd and impossible as it seemed. Then, when all the vessels were full, she told one of her sons to bring her another one. He replied, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. She told Elisha and he instructed her to sell the oil, pay her debt, and she and her sons could live on the rest.

My devotional book says something very profound about this story: “The divine almightiness is content to confine itself to our capacity . . . . Man has not the power to obtain anything more than God has given, but he has the option of taking less.”

In yesterday’s continuing grief, my own griefs come to mind. Hindsight shows me how many times I’ve been satisfied with too little from God. He offers me so much, even all of Himself, yet at times I’ve allowed my own poverty, spiritual and otherwise.

In the front jacket of Desiring God, John Piper says, “We are willing to settle for such pitiful pleasures . . . We have settled for a home, a family, a few friends, a job, a television, a microwave oven, an occasional night out, a yearly vacation, and perhaps a new personal computer. We have accustomed ourselves to such meager, short-lived pleasures that our capacity for joy has shriveled. And so our worship has shriveled. The scenery ad poetry and music of the majesty of God have dried up like a forgotten peach at the back of the refrigerator.”

Piper isn’t talking about financial riches, even though God can supply that too. This is more about the riches of deeply knowing Him. I’m noticing that those riches are not confined to one end of the spectrum, nor to just one segment of our lives. In the past few weeks, I’ve experienced His joy to the point that my face hurt from smiling. Yesterday and this morning He gives me His sorrow, just as deep as the joy.

Enjoyment of the majesty means knowing His heart, knowing what He loves and hates, knowing what gives Him pleasure and knowing what sparks revulsion in Him. It means feeling His range of emotions, experiencing all that He is. This includes being aware of my own poverty so I can know His superior riches, and feeling totally empty so I can know His fullness.

The women, had she known, could have searched the neighborhood for more jars. She could have filled her house, stacked them in the yard and on the roof. She settled for less, and in the economy of God, she did have enough for her needs, but she could of had more.

Knowing God is taking me into a range of emotions I would not otherwise feel. I wonder in what other areas of my life I’ve said that’s enough and left God wanting and waiting to give me more?