February 20, 2019

Lukewarm

February 20, 2019

DAILY READING

Revelation 3:14-22
This weekend’s reading: Revelation 3:14-22

FIELD NOTES
Most people prefer their hot coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider hot instead of lukewarm.  Most prefer their water, ice tea, milk, orange juice, and soft drinks cold, not lukewarm.  Lukewarm drinks can leave flat, stale, and repugnant tastes in the mouth.
 
Having no natural water source in the city, Laodicea’s water supply came from miles away via aqua ducts.  By the time the water traveled the distance, the water was stale and lukewarm. 
 
John says that the Laodiceans’ faith was lukewarm, flat, stale, and repugnant.  Do you know of Christians like this?  Their faith inspires no one.
 
There needs to be an outside source of heat to make hot drinks hot and an outside source to make cold drinks cool.  Likewise, we need a continuous source of Christ’s Holy Spirit to transform us making us vibrant, alive, and desirous for others to taste.  What we don’t need are means by which our faith becomes stale and lukewarm.  That outside source that keeps our faith vibrant and refreshing is God’s grace in each moment of our lives.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

  • What sources that have enabled your faith to be vibrant through the years?
  • How is your faith at the moment?  Hot? Cold? Lukewarm? Stale?
  • Through what source are you allowing Christ to refresh your faith today?
  • Is there another source from which you might receive “living water?”

FAMILY FIELD TALK

  • When are some times your family members have felt close to Jesus? What happened?
  • What are some things your family is doing or needs to do to keep your spiritual life fresh and vibrant?

PRAYER
Most gracious loving Lord.  You are the only source of life.  Help me seek only a relationship with you.  Help me to turn away from those things that do not provide life.  Help me receive living water, and help me share it today.  In your gracious name I pray.  Amen.