To the Church in Laodicea

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 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. You say 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

What can we learn from this message to the church in Laodicea?

1. We must beware of losing the flame. "You are neither hot nor cold."
   The joy of the Lord is the strength of his people. (Are you half-hearted and/or mechanical in your Christian walk, or are you enthusiastic, passionate, and full of zeal?)
2. We must beware of living in a fiction. "You say, 'I am rich...'" but "you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked."
   Did you know that sixty per cent of high school graduates believe they are at or above the ninetieth percentile? It's easy to create our own false reality. Do you want the truth, or a comfortable preacher telling comfortable people how to be more comfortable?
   
3. We must beware of leaving Jesus out of the Fellowship. "I stand at the door and knock."
   The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
   It's easy to get so caught up in our churchy activities (did you know that this blog was originally called "Mike Gets Churchy"?) to the point where the activities become diversions. The spiritual mission of the church is to present and proclaim Christ; this must preempt all else.