I treat myself to a hot cup (or three) of English breakfast tea with milk and sugar daily. My wife prefers iced coffee, especially when it’s hot outside. Neither of us will drink anything that isn’t hot or cold. Lukewarm tea or coffee is offensive to the taste buds!

Offering God “lukewarm” worship or service is just as offensive. In Revelation 3,  Jesus charges the church at Laodicea with lukewarmness. Their love and service to God was tepid, half-hearted and apathetic. They needed to repent to avoid His judgment.  

Lukewarmness causes spiritual lethargy and stunts our growth. It results in insincere worship of God, mediocre service and indifference to the suffering of others. The danger is that God would say to us as He did to the Laodiceans, “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (v.16, NIV).

The remedy is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word regularly, pray for renewal and plead for a new infilling of His Spirit. “Lord, send the fire!”

“The lukewarm Christian can accomplish nothing with a whole life in which to do it.”

— Billy Graham 

For Further Reflection 

Take some time to write out areas in which you have been feeling spiritually “lukewarm.” Pray specifically and ask God to help you be “on fire” for Him again. Then read each one of these passages prayerfully.

• Revelation 3:14-22 
• Revelation 2:4-7 
• Acts 2:1-12
• Psalm 27:8-14
• Palm 42:1-2
• Psalm 63:1-8 

A Prayer for  Overcoming Lukewarmness

Dear God, I long for the days when my heart yearned for You. Please set my heart on fire for You again. May You restore my hunger for Your Word, thirst for Your Holy Spirit and passion for lost souls. Amen. 

Steps to Salvation

The Bible states that God loves you and cares for you as a person (John 3:16). Humankind has been separated from God by sin (Romans 3:23). God sent His Son as a provision for our salvation through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead (Romans 5:8). Doing good deeds is not enough (Ephesians 2:8-9), but receiving the free gift of salvation is (John 1:12).

You can invite Jesus Christ into your life right now by praying something like the following:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I need Your forgiveness and grace. I believe that Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and He died in my place, and He rose from the dead. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sin and making me Your child. Help me to grow and learn how to serve You. Amen.