Lukewarm
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold not hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelations 3:15-16).”
Today’s verse was written about the church of Laodicea. John pinned it after a vision he had while living on the island of Patmos. The early believers in Laodicea had forgotten their first love for Jesus, and had been living that way for so long that they had probably forgotten what their initial passion for God even felt like. This resonates with my own walk with God. When I look back over my life, I can see independent times when I foolishly thought that “I had it” and so I didn’t draw near to God. Each episode developed slowly; they were not quick decisions to pull away from God. I am thankful that each time God disciplined me and showed me the error of my activity, or more truthfully, the error of my inactivity (Revelations 3:19-20).
I can say the same about times in my marriage. There have been times when in the busyness of life I placed my husband on the back burner; before long, I grew comfortable with the distant, yet “peaceful” arrangements.
The other day I experienced a practical application of today’s verse. You see, I cook and do meal prep on Mondays. I freeze meals like Rosemary Sweet Potatoes and Garlic-stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Cuban Chicken and Black Beans, Chicken Fajita Bowls, and all kinds of soups (recipes on Pinterest- follow me😊). My husband and I reheat and eat well all week long from Monday’s hard work of preparation. My freezer is always full!
Jody and I are empty nesters, and we are always on the run! My way of preparing and eating helps us to not eat out as often and keeps us healthier than we would otherwise be.
The other day I put a bowl of Italian Meatball Wedding Soup in the microwave for lunch. Yummy, yummy! The delicious aroma filled the house. I did hear the microwave bell sound, “DING,” but I got distracted and didn’t get out the soup until some time later. When I did finally take out the soup, I quickly put a big spoonful in my hungry mouth. The soup went in, but immediately came back out. Yuck! It was not hot, and “lukewarm” would have been a compliment. Today’s verse prompts me to not only check the status of my heart, but also to check the temperature of anything I may intend to eat from the microwave 😊!
TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT! So, let me encourage you to turn up the heat! Remember back to when you first met Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell everyone how wonderful He was! Spend some extra time pursuing Christ through study of his word, with Christian fellowship and in prayer and praise today.
And tonight, look across the dinner table at your spouse and vow to rekindle that flame too! Spend some time in good conversation about how you fell in love and what you appreciate most about your spouse.
Then ask them the hard questions:
Do you feel loved and cherished, OR have we just become good friends and roommates?
What is the best part of our marriage and what needs more attention?
Is God pleased with our marriage?
As it is important to check the temperature of your microwave meal, it is even more important to keep close tabs on the temperature of your heart and your marriage!
If necessary, turn up the heat, my friends!
Stay washed in the word, and keep reading!
My soul yearns,
even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalms 84:2
