We live in a world surrounded by spiritual compromise. Read about the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter 3. It feels like it was written just yesterday. This church was filled with lukewarm Christians who compromised with the world around them, and they did not even know it was happening. They professed to be Christians, but they resembled the world more than Christ. Christ said they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

 

The Lord warns this church about His judgment against their spiritual condition in Revelation 3:15-16. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. 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.”

 

Our God hates lukewarmness. It is repulsive to Him. We cannot have one foot in God’s kingdom and one foot in the kingdom of darkness. This kind of hypocrisy produces spiritual compromise and displeases God. The Bible says, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.” (2 Corinthians 3:2) Our lives are the only Bible that many people will ever read.

 

So as we enter this first week of 2013, let’s examine our spiritual lives. It starts with us. Are we lukewarm or do we find ourselves hot—excited about the things of God. If we are lukewarm, let’s follow the prescription of the Lord found in Revelation 3:19…”repent and become enthusiastic about the things of God.”

 

It’s our choice. I am choosing by the grace of God to resist spiritual compromise and become zealous for the things of God each day in 2013! How about you?