In the previous devotional I encouraged you to pray for “anti-lukewarm-ness” in North America. We need less apathy and more commitment.

That sentiment was based on Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea from Revelation 3:16: “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Yikes!

Today I want to encourage you to think about any blind spots you might have to your own lukewarm-ness. Here’s what I mean.

When I say that some people are lukewarm, who do you picture? Do you picture people who seem to disregard biblical truth but who still say they follow Jesus because they are gracious? Or do you picture people who seem to lack grace but who still say they follow Jesus because they hold firmly to biblical truth?

My point is that both of these groups are lukewarm. Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Not grace and no truth, and not truth and no grace, but both.

Therefore, his people should strive for both as well.

Charles Simeon explains: “The truth is not in the middle and not in one extreme, but in both extremes.”* In other words, if we are to follow Christ faithfully we need to be radical on both fronts. The opposite of lukewarm-ness is radical truth AND radical grace.

If you read the Gospels and are never challenged on one or both of these fronts, you might be reading with your eyes closed.

We tend to like those teachings of Jesus which already align with what we already think. Sincere discipleship looks in the mirror and asks what we’re neglecting. 

Do we dismiss certain truths because they make us uncomfortable? Or do we dismiss certain behaviours because they take us out our comfort zone?

As we continue to grow in the footsteps of Jesus, let’s do so honestly—and in both radical grace and radical truth.

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Notes:

–*William Carus, ed., Memories of the Life of the Rev. Charles Simeon (New York: Robert Carter, 1847), 352.

–“Follow your head.” Sermon on Psalm 103. June 25, 2023. Click here. 

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.