{"id":29467,"date":"2021-01-02T03:30:46","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T11:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29467"},"modified":"2021-01-01T11:44:02","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T19:44:02","slug":"january-2-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/01\/02\/january-2-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"January 2, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBehold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.\u201d <\/em>Revelation 3:20<\/p>\n

What\u02bcs Your Temperature?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The familiar passage above is often quoted just before giving an invitation to accept Christ. Christ is knocking at the door of our hearts; all we have to do is open to Him, and He will come in.<\/p>\n

But if it is read in its context\u2014reading the verses before and after it\u2014we can see these words were addressed to a lukewarm church.<\/p>\n

A lukewarm thing is neither hot nor cold. Room temperature. Something that has been sitting out of the oven or the refrigerator too long. Something that is lukewarm is the same temperature as its environment.<\/p>\n

A lukewarm church or individual has no passion. No fervency. Nothing about it stands out or is noticeable. \u201cI know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(verse 15). Christ says in verse 16 that this lukewarm condition repulses Him, makes Him sick. He would rather have the church hot or cold, not lukewarm.<\/p>\n

In verse 17, Jesus says that the people thought they had it all together and needed nothing (in other words, didn\u02bct need Him), and didn\u02bct understand they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Everything was wrong, and they didn\u02bct even know it.<\/p>\n

Christ is speaking some rather severe words to those who have taken on the \u201ctemperature of the environment.\u201d It isn\u02bct only that their doors are closed, and He wants them to open to Him. It\u02bcs that He hates the condition they are in.<\/p>\n

Then He gives the antidote to lukewarmness. In verses 18-19, He tells them to buy gold that has been refined in the fire\u2014this is what has true value, this is what makes you truly rich, pursuing those things that remain after the trials have done their work in us and burned off every useless thing.<\/p>\n

He tells them to buy white garments, which is the covering of purity, so they would not be ashamed when their nakedness\u2014or their natural condition\u2014was revealed.<\/p>\n

And He tells them to anoint their eyes with eye salve\u2014that healing oil, the medicine which He, the Great Physician, offers to them\u2014so they can see what is true about their lives. Apply what He gives, so they could see clearly.<\/p>\n

In case anyone is overcome by feelings of guilt and shame at being lukewarm, He then says these welcome words: \u201cAs many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(verse 19).<\/p>\n

There is hope! He loves us, and is giving us a chance to repent. Be zealous, be serious about this. Let\u02bcs honestly assess our temperature this very minute and be zealous about being on fire for Him.<\/p>\n

Lord Jesus, show me if I am lukewarm in any area. Have I become indistinguishable from the world around me? Ignite in me a passion for You, for Your Word, and for Your people. I hear You knocking; show me how to respond to Your invitation to open myself up to You. In Jesus\u02bc Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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