Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, February 4, 2017

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“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).

You make me sick!

I don’t know if you have ever had the pleasure, and I use that word advisedly, of drinking lukewarm water on an empty stomach before. It’s not cool. It’s not hot. It’s not refreshing on a hot summer’s day. It’s not hot when you need soothing vapors to heal overworked vocal cords. It’s somewhere in the middle. Well, let me just say that an unwary drinker would be in for an unpleasant surprise. Drinking lukewarm water, especially on an empty stomach creates gastrointestinal disturbances for most people. That’s just code for it makes you wanna vomit. The water, which is very good for you, and has a vital cleansing effect, in this context, makes most want to vomit.

What if there were a people whom the Lord loves, that were like lukewarm water to His spiritual sensitivities? What if those people could not make up their minds? They could not decide whether they were on the river or on the bank. They could not decide to be with Him or against Him. They could not choose to love or hate Him. How disturbing might that be? How confusing would it be if those people professed to love God and to be on fire for His service only to provide languid, half-hearted participation in spiritual activities? Would they be authentic representatives of the God they profess to serve?

Unfortunately, there are so many professed believers around the world who are willing to provide half-hearted services while saying we love God. So many of us, even in large convention and congregations of people have sworn of off full commitment to God in exchange for a contrived unity that ignores vital elements of Bible truth. What makes that so nauseating to God, spiritually speaking, is that some of us are too proud to see ourselves as we really are. We feel like we have it all together. We feel like since we actively participate in Christian fellowships that the details don’t matter.

Well, the opener said, “You make me sick!” but I left out a vital element. Just as a pregnant woman experiences morning sickness and yet still loves the growing baby who’s causing the feeling, our heavenly Father loves us even when we are faulty. The difference, however, is that if we ignore His entreaties long enough, and continue to pridefully do our own lukewarm thing, God will be forced to allow us to go our way to the certain consequence of resisting His love.

The Holy Spirit is available to all, even lukewarm people, to provide the power and insight to choose a complete commitment to God. He will provide the discernment to understand God’s will. He will provide the power to receive the righteousness of Christ. He will provide faith that works by the love principle to keep us plugged into Him and His service until He returns.

Thank God for His patience, love, and willingness to welcome us into right relationship with Him.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)