When you hear the word hot, what comes to mind?
I think of my favorite kind of shower—hot.
My early-morning cup of tea (Tazo Passion Tea sweetened with honey)—hot.
My food. My friend Alicia used to say, “I want my hot food hot and my cold food cold.” Amen.
Hot pizza, hot cinnamon rolls, and hot soup. Mmmmmmm.
Now think of the word lukewarm.
What comes to mind when you hear this word?
Tepid lake water that neither warms or cools you—lukewarm.
French fries that sat too long in a takeout bag. Limp, soggy—lukewarm.
My favorite tea after it’s lost its heat. No longer infused with steamy goodness, it’s just meh—lukewarm.
What God Thinks about Lukewarm
God, through the apostle John, has something to say about lukewarm:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:15).
And He has an opinion: “I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (v. 16).
The church in Laodicea had a lot going for them, but they had lost their spiritual fire. Even worse—they didn’t know it. They thought they were fine, but they were lukewarm—nauseatingly so.
They weren’t refreshing, effective, or comforting. They weren’t accomplishing the work God had called them to do. They were just going through the motions.
Lukewarm Me
I recognize their profile, because some days, I look just like them. Mediocre. Half-committed. Lukewarm.
Cruising on my past works. Resting on my previous Bible knowledge. Sitting in the ashes of yesterday’s fire.
This Christmas, my kids, all coffee and tea connoisseurs, bought me the coolest gift. It’s a rechargeable mug called an Ember that keeps my tea at the exact temperature I prefer (135°F). From the first sip to the last, my tea stays hot.
It’s heavenly. Whether the mug is filled to the top or down to the last ounce, I’m never disappointed. Ever.
An Ember for Christians?
I wish there was an Ember for Christians.
We could sit ourselves on our charging pad, press the button, and, voila, no more lukewarm faith. Our spiritual lives would be hot, hot, hot for Jesus.
No more lukewarm church attendance or half-hearted Bible reading. No more mediocre ministry or meh attitude toward sin. Just an on-fire love for God and His kingdom.
I wish.
Thankfully, God loved the Laodicean church and didn’t want them to live ineffective, joyless lives. “As many as I love,” He said, “I rebuke and chasten” (v. 19). Then He provided a cure for their lukewarmness: “Be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
The First Step
The first and most important step in regaining our spiritual heat is to repent. To agree with God that lukewarm isn’t His will for us. To acknowledge our sins of apathy and self-absorption and fling ourselves into His forgiving arms.
When we do, God begins a work in us. If we ask Him, in sincerity and faith, He’ll create a desire in our hearts to read our Bibles, pray, and serve God and others. He won’t make us robots, but He’ll give us the want-to and ability to walk closely with Him. If we pursue Him as He pursues us, one day, the fire from His Spirit will ignite our hearts again, and we’ll be on fire for Jesus.
It’s not an accident you’re reading this post on the cusp of a new year—a better year—a no-longer-lukewarm year. God’s calling you to repent of your lukewarmness and ask Him to set you on fire.
“Behold,” He says, “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” (v. 20).
And I promise you, nothing at that meal will be lukewarm.
Treat Yourself to a New Devotional in 2025
As faithful readers of Refresh, you will always get the inside news on latest books and exciting happenings first, and boy, do I have some exciting news for you (and an invitation).
Would you like to:
- Shift your gaze from your problems to God’s presence and power
- Feel renewed joy, increased energy, and rekindled gratitude
- Learn to lean on God in the messy and the mundane
I would too! This is why I wrote my newest book, Think on These Things, 60 Thoughtful Devotions for Renewed Peace. I found myself struggling with fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. Yet I knew God’s people should be the most hopeful and hope-filled people of all. We should be characterized by peace, not anxiety.
When I read Philippians 4:8, I knew I’d found God’s prescription for lasting peace—we are to think on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
So I went on a quest to find the loveliest, purest, most excellent and admirable examples from real life to think on. Then I captured them in short devotions you can read early in the morning, late at night, or whenever you have two minutes to “think on these things.”
Be the first to receive your copy of Think on These Things. Order NOW. Amazon’s release date is January 7, but they often ship early and sometimes run out.
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