ASSESSING YOUR SPIRITUAL TEMPERATURE

AND TO THE ANGEL (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation: I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and under-stand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). (Revelation 3:14-22 The Amplified Bible). Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities of Asia, known for its banking industry, manufac-turing of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool - only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city. Lukewarm water is unpalatable. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't stand for anything. Indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied. The church was destroying itself. Are you lukewarm in your devotion to God? Some believers falsely assume that lots of material possessions are a sign of God's spiritual blessing. Laodicea was a wealthy city, and the church was wealthy too. But what the Laodiceans could see and buy had become more valuable to them than what is unseen and eternal. Wealth, luxury, and ease can make people feel confident, satisfied, and complacent. But no matter how much you possess or how much money you make, you have nothing if you don't have a vital, living relationship with Christ! Laodicea was known for its great wealth - but Christ told the Laodiceans to buy their gold from Him. The city was proud of its cloth and dyeing industries - but Christ told them that they were naked and should purchase white garments from Him. Laodicea prided itself on its precious eye salve that healed many eye problems - but Christ told them to get medicine from Him to heal their eyes so they could see the truth! Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value was not in material possessions, but in a right and holy relationship with God. Their (our) possessions and achievements were (are) valueless compared with the everlasting future of Christ's Kingdom! Because the Laodicean church was complacent and rich, they felt fulfilled, but they didn't have Christ's Presence among them! He knocked at the door of their hearts, but they were so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that they didn't notice He was trying to enter. The pleasures of this world - money, security, material possessions - can be dangerous, because their temporary satisfaction makes us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction. If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life! Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts every time we sense we should turn to Him. He wants to have fellowship with us, and He wants us to open up to Him. He is patient and persistent in trying to get through to us - not breaking and entering, but knocking. He allows us to decide whether or not to open our lives to Him. Do you intentionally keep His life-changing Presence and power on the other side of the door? {Life Application Bible}. Although very wealthy, this rich church was in actual fact a very poor church in God's estimation! No virtues are recorded, only sins and weaknesses (lukewarmness, spiritual conceit, no conscious need of God, spiritual poverty and spiritual blindness). The church of Laodicea typifies the last days' churches - popular, self-satisfied, worldly churches! {The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, NIV} "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23, 24 NIV).