“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.'” Revelation 3:14-19
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
How skewed can be the perceptions of man! I am adequate. I have enough. I made it happen. I can make it happen. When we’re steeped in self, as our culture would keep us, life revolves around me. And since everything begins and ends with me- my feelings, my wants, my determination- I can surreptitiously go about days needing nothing from anyone else, especially God. The bent of conceit can also swing to being consumed with self-loathing and sorry. The danger is in neglecting the Almighty altogether, the result is an empty, meaningless life.
The Lord who made us for rich relationship with Himself intends to undo our selfishness as well as our deprecation. If we don’t humble ourselves He will see to it surely and mercifully. Paul needed drastic measure, and we may too. Only God can give sober, proper perspective, but grants it as we seek His eyes and mind. He will correct, for His sake in us, every wrong assessment, be it grave or gauche, boasting or belittling. (Romans 12:3; James 1:5)
How is my mind most often occupied? Where am I thinking too highly of myself? Too little? Too much? What would change if I began each day considering the Amen, the Faithful and True, and thinking much of Him? Certainly it would adjust mental priorities and set the spirit aright. Seeing myself, others, and the Lord’s intentions through the lens of His eternal goodness and grace transforms a warped mindset into a heavenly one.
Where have I grown lukewarm, numb to the influence of my Lord? What self-sufficiency and selfish preoccupation will I bring to God’s throne for dethroning?
Father, keep me needing, trusting, and glorifying You alone.
As the rain and snow 