None of us sets out with the intention of letting the fire within us dwindle, but over time what was once new and exciting becomes commonplace and mundane. The passion that once burned hot within us wanes, and we stop expecting the God who gives fire to work within and around us.

This was certainly the case for the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14 – 21). The people of the church in Laodicea had become numb to the work of God. They stopped expecting God to work among them and instead trusted in their own resources and abilities. They stopped relying on God to bring fire and in turn neglected tending the very fire that God had already given them. They had been lulled into complacency by their apparent lack of need, abandoning the passion that once burned within.

The author of the book of Revelation calls them lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Lukewarm, according to the author, was worse than cold – it would be better for them to be one or the other. It wasn’t that they were actively rejecting God, it was just that they were indifferent, pursuing things that didn’t matter, gathering for themselves material wealth and security that wouldn’t last.

The anecdote to their apathy can be found in verse 18 – “So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire…”

Instead of pursuing material wealth and security, the author challenges them to pursue that which had already been refined by fire, to trade their independence for something of true value, to abandon their indifference for an awareness of God’s fire in their lives.

But the challenge doesn’t stop there – in verse 20 it says “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” It wasn’t enough for them to simply be aware of God, they were to respond to God as well, to open the door and allow Him to enter into their lives.

So, what does this mean for us? That we must take an honest look at our lives and ask ourselves if we too are lukewarm. Are we indifferent to and unaware of the work of God? Are we pursuing our own independence and security apart from God? Are we failing to respond when we sense God prompting us to something more?

And if we find ourselves in that lukewarm space, how do we rekindle the fire so that it will burn hot once more? We, like the church in Laodicea, must redirect our focus to the things that matter, and respond to what God is doing.

Personal Practice: Use the following questions to take a life inventory, becoming aware of the ways you may need to reorient your life to the things that matter most.

• Can you identify when and where you feel closest to God?

• What gives you the greatest sense of security and self-worth?

• Who or what receives most of your time and attention (spouse, family, job, hobbies)?

• What longings remain constant and unrealized in your life?

• Where do you want to change? Do you feel powerless or empowered to work alongside God to realize the transformation you wish to see?

Questions for Reflection: Use these questions as a Group to reflect on your personal life inventory and the ways in which you can encourage one another to pursue the fire of God.

• Why do you think lukewarm is worse than cold?

• Can you identify a time that you have responded to God’s prompting? What did it feel like to take that action?

• How have you seen apathy and indifference effect your own passion?

• What next steps can you take to ensure that you do not become indifferent to God, or to rekindle your passion for God? How can this community support you as you begin to take those steps?