Be Not Lukewarm

~~~ Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Luke 19:1-10 ~~~

 

"...Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says..."

 

"...I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth."

 

Neither being cold or hot is the same as being apathetic or complacent.

God wants us to live our lives with passion.

We need to live a life convicted by our faith in God.

 

If we are neither cold or hot we just go thorough the motions of living.

Look at Paul, he was passionate about persecuting Christians but when God

entered into his life he flipped his passion to doing good.

 

Being lukewarm to God is not acceptable.

It is much more difficult to stand up for what you believe if you are tepid.

For a moment think about the temperature of water.

If the is either hot or cold it serves either to cook or to freeze something.

Extremes are noticed...given attention.

Lukewarm can be swayed either way depending on how the 'wind blows'.

 

 

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.'

 

Zacchaeus was not satisfied to just hear the words of Jesus.

He climbed a tree so he could also see the person of Jesus.

He took a chance. He was not acting as someone who was lukewarm.

 

By climbing up into the tree he was not in his normal place.

Birds are in the trees not people.

Jesus noticed Zacchaeus up in the tree because it was not

the usual place for a person.

 

 

 

Jesus not only noticed him high up in the tree he also told him...

 

"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."

 

The very next knock on Zacchaeus' door would be

announcing the arrival of Jesus.

 

Jesus would be standing at the door;

 having already made contact with Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was ready to receive Jesus into his home.

He heard what the Spirit said that day.

 

Even though a tax collector and wealthy

 he was open to hearing what Jesus had to say.

Zacchaeus was willing to change.

Did he have any idea what seeing Jesus would do to his life?

Would he have invited Jesus to dine in his home on his own?

 

This is another example of Jesus making the first move.

Jesus reached out to the small man perched high in the tree.

 

...If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.'

 

Neither be cold or hot...

Listen to the Spirit...

If you do hear his voice open the door...

he wants to dine with you.