“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! …since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth!” Revelation 3:15-16NLT
Torture, rape and murder happens annually to over 100,000 Christians in Islamic countries around the world. Muslim extremists kill ‘infidels’ for their god Allah. Whoever dares to stand for a different god, like our Jehovah God, are marked for death.
Christians of Middle Eastern and African nations stand tall in the face of persecution. Few choose to denounce Christ in exchange for life. Physical body, nor material possessions matter more to them than knowing Christ. They “…know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2Timothy 1:12NASB
Our American mentality has become nonchalant about Almighty God. Frederic D. Huntington Forum Magazine 1890 rightly wrote: “It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity.”
Francis Chan dedicated a chapter to ‘Profile Of The Lukewarm’ in his book, ‘Crazy Love.’ Chan asked: “Are you satisfied being ‘good enough’ to get yourself to heaven, or to look good in comparison to others?”
What is our response to Philippians 3:10NIV “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death?” Seriously, we’re clueless about how His suffering felt, or His death. Executions here are painless injections or an instant jolt of electricity. Few know torture. Aren’t we much more prone to serving Christ with our Sunday best and fluff? Everyone commending us?
Chan writes on page 61-62 of ‘Crazy Love.’ “For a long time this verse had too much Jesus for me. In my opinion, the verse should have ended after the word resurrection, so I could have an appealing, popular Jesus who didn’t suffer. The feedback I received from other Christians reassured me that this was a fine perspective, and it gave me little reason to strive to know Christ more deeply, I was good enough, ‘godly enough.’
My life has endured many hardships, illnesses, near death experiences. I was taken aback with Chan’s questions. Suffered? Absolutely. Life experiences still never took me into torture and death, as Christ suffered. Would I have endured, if life had taken me into participating in Christ’s sufferings? Could you endure?
Christ’s cross demands the most we can give, in life and in death. His price was the ultimate. I heard Manny Johnson say, God showed him the crucifixion, and how his sins punished Jesus. When asked if Manny could forgive his offender, he realized the weight of his offense in Christ’s death.
Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in heaven” Matthew 10:32NASB. Lukewarm people don’t share their faith with anyone. It’s not comfortable. They simply avoid the issue.
Chan questions, ‘Are you lukewarm like those of Laodicea? Or are you sold out one hundred percent, ‘on fire for God?’ crosses the line of ease. Can you pay what demands the most? Will you suffer with Christ? It’s your choice. You choose.
PRAYER: Papa God help us to desire more of You than having the bare minimum. Birth in us radical passion for You in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
by Debbie Veilleux
Copyright 2021 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional, as author. Thank you.
