Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 23, 2022
Read Revelation 3:15-16
15 I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth.
Good morning! Oh, how I love Jesus!
After a week at Wallops and a good night’s rest, I am happy to be home. The trip allowed me to revel in God’s creation from the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains. When I was driving across the Bay Bridge Tunnel, I saw a dolphin breach the surface of the water to greet me. Watching dolphins touches a special place in my heart. This morning I am sitting and listening to nature working around me in Madison. I thank God for my blessings.
This morning’s passage is short, but very strong in meaning. What does this mean to be neither hot, nor cold, but lukewarm. To make the water temperature lukewarm, you mix hot and cold and work to keep a balance between the two to make the water just right for your needs.
To be lukewarm in the eyes of God, means that you accept the goodness (the hot) and you use evil (the cold) and mix them together (the lukewarm) by picking and choosing what suits you in a particular moment for your own comfort. In today’s words, you are two-faced. When you are with believers, you act and speak as they do, and when you are with non-believers, you do what they do.
Some do this because they are afraid for others to know their true feelings. Others do this so that they might profit, either physically or spiritually, from whatever way the wind is blowing. Why would God be so harsh towards those deemed lukewarm? To choose to be lukewarm indicates that you are aware of God and evil, and you are playing the odds so that you will keep a foot in both camps until you see which will bring you the best results.
God loves and protects those who choose to believe. We are called to bring those in darkness to the light, but God allows all the choice. 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24 NIV) Those who try to serve both so that they might profit are lost to God. The Good News is that all can be saved, but we must open the door and accept Christ into our hearts.
Loving and Caring God, Thank You for loving us. Help us see the light so that we may not lose our way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: How can I choose God today?
Share God’s love with someone today! Pastor Liz
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