SHEVAT 30
Lukewarm Obedience
“So, because you are LUKEWARM, and
neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.”
(Rev 3:16 ISR)
The
Greek word that has been translated as ‘lukewarm’ is the word chliaros (Strong’s G5513), and means
just what is says: lukewarm and tepid.
This verse from Revelations is the only
place in the Apostolic Writings (New Testament) where it is found, and carries
with it a strong warning.
Included
in the definition of ‘lukewarm’, Noah Webster uses the words “Not ardent; not
zealous; cool; indifferent; as lukewarm obedience.”[1] The words “lukewarm obedience” stand out to
me, and in an honest self-evaluation, I find that there are those areas in my
Torah walk where my obedience has perhaps not
been instantaneous. I would suggest that
we all have those hidden pockets of
“lukewarm obedience”, those areas where we have ‘reasoned’ with ourselves that
perhaps they really aren’t as important as what Torah says. Total commitment has now become casual and
lethargic, and hunger for the things of our Elohim is tasteless.
We
have a vivid example from the Scriptures.
David was a man appointed and anointed by Elohim to be the king, the
ruler over the nation of Israel. Elohim
says of David that ‘I have found Dawiḏ the
son of Yishai, a man after My own heart,
who shall do all My desires’ (Acts 13:22, emphasis mine). And yet it only took that one nocturnal
glance over the roof tops for the ‘instant obedience’ to walk out the door (see
2Sam 11).
It
is also from David that we learn how to deal with our ‘cool indifference’. Psalm 51 is recognized as a prayer of
repentance – of teshuvah – in
supplication to the Creator of the universe, and it is a prayer that I have
personally prayed many times in my life.
May we all return to that place where the zeal of Elohim consumes us (Rom
12:11), and the fear of Elohim is our guiding force (2Cor 7:1).
“Is not your [reverent] fear of God your confidence and the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?” (Job 4:6 AMPC)
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