I am sitting in my recliner, bundled up with a few extra layers—my heat system is working hard, but it’s not as warm as I like it. When I am able to stay home and build a fire, I can get this area toasty warm in a few hours! It is more work, but the ambiance (and warmth) makes it a worthwhile endeavor. I know each of us has our preferences for the temperatures we like. So does Jesus!

I just started reading the book of Revelation (again). I have been pondering the seven churches John wrote about in chapters 2-3. I believe like all the rest of God’s Word, there are insights and practical applications for every believer today. The last church mentioned was the church of Laodicea. That is the church Jesus was not happy with because they had become lukewarm. Jesus told them He preferred them to be hot or cold but not lukewarm. Most food and drinks taste better when they are served either hot or cold. I like my coffee hot and also iced (in the summertime). But many times I will get distracted and allow my hot coffee to get lukewarm and I have to reheat it because I don’t like it lukewarm. Jesus stated His dislike this way: “Because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth.” He comments that this church did not feel like it needed anything when in truth they were “miserable, poor, blind, barren and naked.” He then encourages them to remedy their condition and states: “All those I dearly love I unmask and train. So repent and be eager to pursue what is right.”

The Lord’s motive in correcting us is always based on His love for us and His desire for us to experience the fullness of all that He has made available to us. He disciplines us for our own good. He desires that we experience the abundant life that He paid for each of us through His suffering and death.

Earlier, in chapter two, when Jesus is addressing the church of Ephesus, He commends them for all that they were doing and for their strong stand against unrighteousness and yet still said, “But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. Think about how you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first.” What is that first love? It is love for Jesus Himself that supersedes all the good works and the strong stand for righteousness that he mentioned earlier. I have been asking the Lord what does that look like for me. I felt conviction so I knew He was trying to get my attention. Can we get so used to our normal life and routine that our relationship with Him is no longer like it was when we first got saved? He was always at the forefront of my mind. Obeying Him was of utmost importance. The hunger to know Him and His Word was on my mind constantly. I think He is still the center of my life and my desire to know Him and please Him has not diminished in any recognizable way. But I don’t want to be like Laodicea and not be aware of my condition so I am making a fresh conscious choice to pursue Him and will be quick to repent if He brings something to my attention that needs changing.

My pastor was sharing a personal testimony on Sunday of how the Lord dealt with him many years ago about total surrender. He admitted that he was lukewarm at that time and the Lord warned him that his heart was getting hard. The conviction of the Holy Spirit was tangible in our meeting and he extended an invitation to anyone in the congregation who wanted to make a fresh commitment and declare that they were ready for total surrender. Two-thirds of our church went forward for the altar call including me to publically declare what I had done earlier that day myself. I don’t think surrender is a one-time decision or event but rather a regular recommitment of our lives. Any time we are not fervent in our love and commitment to Him, we can come to Him and repent and be renewed.

As I stated last week: “My regular prayer for many years has been based on Romans 12:1. ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.’” This can be a daily habit to keep fervent in your love and devotion to Him. When our bodies and our souls are led by our spirits, we will stay fervent! The offerings required by the Lord in Old Testament days had to be the best they had to offer. No blemishes and probably costly. I believe that a New Testament sacrifice needs to be the same – the best we have to offer Him.

I am asking the Lord for specific ways to make that a reality in my own life. I think it would be different for each of us but the heart attitude should be one of humility and repentance and instant obedience to His voice. I don’t necessarily think it involves “doing more.” I stay very busy doing several things that could be considered “good works”. I can stay “busy”. If that alone is what the Lord was after, many church workers far surpass me in doing good works.

I think it is about closeness to Him. When Jesus told some of his followers that did all kinds of good works for Him but said to them, “I never knew you” He was describing those who did not have a personal, close relationship like one has with a spouse or a best friend. (Matthew 7:23-27) Those who still practice lawlessness are not trying to please the Lord but themselves.

As we come to the close of another year, many people begin to plan for the next year and write out specific plans to see those goals accomplished. In the past, I have done this on some level. Sometimes it is more detailed and has more content. In other years, like this past year, He spoke only two things to me – “be flexible and obey quickly”. Those instructions were right on. As I am seeking Him concerning what it is supposed to look like for me to restore first love, I am confident He will show me exactly what I need to be doing. I am very expectant for 2025 and beyond.