The letter to Laodicea

The first three chapters of Revelation present the letters to the seven churches. Those letters, in addition to addressing specific issues of that time, double as messages to us. Of those seven letters, perhaps the most famous in the one to Laodicea, a wealthy city located in modern-day Turkey. The letter reads (Revelation 3:15-20, NLT),

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

When things go well in our lives, we can easily slip into spiritual laziness. We become "lukewarm." Worse, we begin to place our trust in those things that are going well, rather than in God. We say, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!"

The letter to Laodicea issues a strong warning to all of us: Take care not to fall into spiritual complacency!