Why would God be happy with a loose... or lukewarm... church as His Bride?

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Looking down on where Laodicea was

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Could they convict me in court beyond a shadow of a doubt ??

 What do you answer when people ask what you want to do with your life? What are your goals?  How much time to you invest in the idiot box ? or comupter games?  Would you prefer to tell a lie than loose money?  Or... If a someone at school was making a joke out of Jesus? Or dishonouring His name? Would you step in + honour His name to their faces?

 What do you answer when people ask what you want to do with your life? What are your goals?  How much time to you invest in the idiot box ? or comupter games?  Would you prefer to tell a lie than loose money?  Or... If a someone at school was making a joke out of Jesus? Or dishonouring His name? Would you step in + honour His name to their faces?  Do you stand up for Jesus when it'll cost you? – even just respect?  How do you decide when you have a clash of loyalties? Committed to both...  What do you do with your spare time? Or spare money?  What motivates you to work more? Your own financial security?  Are you building God's kingdom or yours ?  Do you choose work over going to church?  Do you choose to work / relax in front of the night ? even if it means you can't get up early enough to commit the day to God + spend time in His word?  Are you so busy with other commitments that you don't make the regular habbit of praying with your children, + teaching them about God?

My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain... for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. [Ez. 33:31-32]

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. STUFFED WITHOUT GOD – He will provide

GOD OF SECOND CHANCE – call to be faithful 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

GOD OF SECOND CHANCE – call to be faithful Depending on who we are loyal to: to our desires... + what this world promises? OR to Him who sits on the throne ?

GOD OF SECOND CHANCE – call to be faithful Depending on who we are loyal to: to our desires... + what this world promises? OR to Him who sits on the throne ? Who will you trust: this fallen world ? OR The Creator of the universe ?

GOD OF SECOND CHANCE – call to be faithful If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom.6:4)