Lukewarm Coffee by Kristie Washington

“I know your deeds: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

I love coffee! Do you? If so, we are automatically going to be friends. I enjoy sitting in my favorite chair in the morning with a hot cup of coffee and my Bible—or having a cup with a friend. However, I’m notorious for being a “re-heater.” What is that? I’m glad you asked! Well, I love really hot coffee or iced coffee—I don’t do lukewarm anything! Depending on how long I linger, I may reheat my coffee multiple times. The microwave and I are best friends.

As I meditate on this verse, I think of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, and reading the Word. When I make time daily to be in the Word—and allow the Word to be in me—I “reheat” the fire of the Holy Spirit that the Lord filled me with when I said “yes” to Him living in my heart and being Lord and Savior of my life.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you (emphasis mine), whom you have received from God?” 1 Corinthians 6:19
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you (emphasis mine)…” Acts 1:8
“…tongues of fire came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled (emphasis mine) with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:3-4

These verses show how the Holy Spirit is in us, on us, and fills us up! We see many times in Scripture that the Holy Spirit is analogous with fire. To put it simply, fire is hot! To avoid growing lukewarm in our zeal for Christ, we must “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6). Just like we fan a fire to get it to grow larger (usually hotter), we have to continually “reheat” our faith—not just get close to the fire of the Holy Spirit, but be consumed by it. Only then will we burn ever brighter and be of greatest use in the Kingdom of God. Go back as many times and as often as you need to and “reheat” the fire of the Holy Spirit that was placed in you on the day of your salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Guest Contributor: Kristie Washington