When The Door Slams
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."
Revelation 3:15
One of the characteristics of someone who is severely depressed is a flat affect. What this means is that they show little emotion. This kind of person does not respond with enthusiasm to anything. They are "lifeless." Even when surrounded by the celebrations of Christmas there is no display of emotion.
In Rev. 3:14-22 the Church in Laodicea had become complacent. They showed no vitality and no life. They were lukewarm spiritually. In their feasts as well as in their religious sacrifices, people in the ancient world customarily drank what was either hot or cold, never lukewarm.
Therefore this distasteful "lukewarm" label had a real impact. The imagery is sorrowful. They needed to find true richness, they needed to cover their shameful nakedness with clothes and put salve (ointment) on their eyes so they could have spiritual sight. The church was unconscious of its real need.
The warning comes to us today to be alert to our spiritual life, to see clearly our spiritual situation, and not to get complacent in our materialism. Lord, at this time of the year when we are bombarded by materialism, help us to have spiritual eyes to clearly evaluate our personal lives.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
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