The city of Laodicea received its water via an aqueduct from hot mineral springs five miles to the south. The water would have cooled slowly along the way and would have been distastefully lukewarm by the time it got to the city. Both hot and cold water are palatable. Tepid water, on the other hand, is disgusting. In the letter to the church in Laodicea, Jesus indicts the people for becoming like their water supply. Their faith had lost its original heat. Their self-dependence and relative comfort had created the atmospheric conditions for this cooling effect. If these atmospheric conditions cooled their faith, how much more does our situation pose a danger to our faith. A low wage earner in our context will be far more secure and comfortable than the average rich person in the ancient world. So, we should be alarmed by Jesus’ warning to the Laodiceans. Wealth is not bad. But without the vigilant activation of faith it can become dangerous to us. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Faith does not require poverty and hardship to keep it alive. God is always giving us opportunities to stretch our faith. There will be something that God is asking you to trust him with now. It will be a new challenge or concern. Facing that challenge in faith will keep you on the boil.
What is God asking you to trust him with. Pray for the things described in verse 18.
Read Revelation 3:14-18.
