Zechariah 13:9 says ‘And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.’

DAILY READING; • Philippians 1:1-11; Ezekiel 18; Isaiah 47

The city of Laodicea was a prosperous center of banking and commerce founded in the 3rd century BC. It was famous for wool clothing and for a popular eye salve produced by its medical school.
However, in spite of its prosperity, the city had a major strategic weakness; it lacked an adequate and convenient water source.
Interestingly, Laodicea was located in the middle of two other cities that had abundance of water. On its north was the city of Hierapolis which was famous for its hot spring waters and on the other side was Colossae which was known for its pure, cold waters.
It appears that the Laodicians had an agreement with the city of Hierapolis to obtain hot water from their springs. Archaeology shows that Laodicea had an aqueduct that carried water from the hot mineral springs of Hierapolis to them.
However, though the temperature of the water was usually hot when it left Hierapolis, because it had to travel for five miles, by the time it reached Laodicea it would often become lukewarm. This lukewarm water was less-than-refreshing, but it was what the Laodicians had to use for their daily needs.

In Revelation 3:16 Jesus addressed the Laodician Church in a manner they could easily understand when He said that they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm.

Revelation 3:16 says ‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.’

Among the seven churches in the book of Revelation, the lukewarm church of Laodicea was the only church that was not commended for anything. Yet they were congratulating themselves for being wealthy, increased with goods, and in need of nothing; while the Lord saw them as wretched, miserable, poor, and blind.

The letter written to the Laodiceans has great relevance to us today.
In these last days the Church is experiencing overwhelming prosperity such as the Christian world has never seen in history. Yet we must never allow the comforts of prosperity make us content to live without the fire, power and supernatural element that makes us sons of God.
If we seek gold first we will miss God, but when we seek God first we will meet gold.
The Word of Jesus to the Laodiciean Church should jerk us up from every spiritual complacency and make us continually seek God for fresh fire.

Spiritual fire is what will give us the passion and drive to keep pursuing God even in the midst of prosperity. Without this fire, we will gradually become entangled with the affairs of this world and lose sight of the high calling upon our lives.
But as we stay on fire, we will be purified to become vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use.
Just as the fire of God distinguished Elijah from the prophets of Baal, as sons of God we are to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

Let us therefore fervently pursue God’s Word, prayers and fellowship with the Spirit, so as to stay spiritually hot and burning for Jesus.
Staying in God’s Word will not only inform us, but also inflame us. Jeremiah 20:9 says ‘But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones’.
It is certainly time to return to our first love and begin to seek and serve God with fresh zeal. We need to return back to sweet fellowship with the Spirit and become worshippers in Spirit and in truth.
We have to realize that eternity is at stake.
Let us therefore avoid all lukewarmness and stay on fire, so that at the end of our earthly race, we cross the finish line with our torch still burning bright to hear the eternal ‘Well done!’.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to avoid the distractions of these last days and always stay on fire for You. Please enable me to focus on what matters most and fervently seek and serve You always in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE:
When God’s Word is in your heart, there will automatically be gold in your hand – WORDBITE 222