Weekly Devotional: Sitting on the Fence as a Lukewarm Christian

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” — Matthew 16:26, NIV

Have you ever been half-hearted about something? Perhaps there has been a decision that you weren’t completely willing to commit to, so you stopped in the midst of uncertainty to delay your decision. Perhaps it’s a decision of what college to attend, what job to apply for, what city to move to or even something as ordinary as what to pack for lunch.

There is one decision that we should be careful not be apathetic toward. We cannot sit on the fence when it comes to our faith. Faith takes commitment. Jesus has already offered us salvation; all we have to do is accept. Then we can get off the fence and begin living fully committed to him.

How to Not Be a Lukewarm Christian

“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.” — Revelation 3:15-16, NIV

Many people enjoy a caffeinated beverage in the morning. Some people may make a hot pot of coffee or tea while others may prefer a cooling glass of iced coffee or tea. It is not often that people request a beverage to be lukewarm. In fact, many people may not even want their beverage anymore if it reaches the dreaded room temperature.

As people, we may fall into a lukewarm lifestyle. Perhaps, our passion or fire for Christ has died down and we do not make an effort to grow spiritually. Perhaps, we have felt distant from God and have fallen away from healthy habits. No matter the case, being lukewarm is not a good place to be.

Fortunately, much like how people put their beverage into the microwave to reheat it, we can become warm and on fire for Christ again. We have to decide to follow Christ and not take an indifferent approach. Going all in might not be easy, but it is worth it.

Dedication, Devotion and Conviction

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:1-2, NIV

God loves us more than we could ever imagine. Our love for Him should not be indifferent. We shouldn’t postpone living our lives for Christ because each moment is precious. Our hearts can overflow with dedication and devotion for Him here and now.

Colossians 3:1 tells us to set our hearts on thing above. When our focus is on Christ, we don’t have to be afraid of what we are losing or leaving behind. What we gain from a relationship with him is so much better. It is our choice to get down off the fence and choose how we want to spend our lives.

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Approved by the Global Outreach Coordinator of The Department of Spiritual Life on Sept. 28, 2022