As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (Revelation 3:19).

There’re Christians who are laid-back spiritually; they’re lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. They think of themselves as “normal” Christians. They jeer at some others as “too spiritual” or fanatical, but they themselves are spiritually inactive, lethargic and complacent about the things of the Spirit.

The Lord’s disposition towards such spiritual lassitude and ineffectiveness is revealed in Revelation 3:15-16. He said, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold nor hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” This is serious, coming from the lips of the Master.

A Christian who remains lukewarm could end up going to hell. Every one of us must take a stand for the Gospel and be effective in our Christian walk. Be on fire for the Lord. Lukewarm Christians are usually expressionless, even during worship in church; they’re just there. Everyone else could be dancing to the Lord, exuberant with worship and praise, but they would be wondering, “What are they dancing about? What’s all the excitement about?” No matter what the Pastor does or says, even when everybody else is laughing, they’re straight-faced.

When the Pastor says, “Let’s worship the Lord with our hands lifted,” their hands don’t go up; they lack the enthusiasm to truly worship God. If you’ve been that way, the Lord says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent.” To be zealous means to be afire. It means to let your spiritual fire burn with unquenchable intensity. The Lord Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Let the things of the Spirit excite you. Get into the flow of the Spirit. Be known as a burning and a shining light. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

PRAYER
Dear Father, the zeal for the things of the Spirit and for the expansion of your Kingdom has consumed me. I’m a burning and a shining light; I’m fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, putting on righteousness as a breastplate, with my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. I’m full of passion for extraordinary impact with the Gospel, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.