Lukewarm and Loving It?

"Are u on fire for our Lord, are u angry at anyone that challenge your faith? I was lukewarm, I'm gonna change. Are you?..." This is a shout out to one of my youths at church, Paul Su, who said these words while posting a great video on our HOC1 Unison youth fellowship Facebook group. The video is titled "Gospel-rooted Christian Joy: Francis Chan - Lukewarm and Lovin' it" and I am linking this video to my blog because I believe this is important message for us to dwell upon today. Take a few moments to watch this message before continuing to read:

As I read through our devotional in the book of Galatians, I see Paul writing to an audience who has lost some of the fire, the passion, and the freedom found in Christ. As I read Galatians, I see brothers and sisters who have turned away from the Gospel which clearly sets people free! Paul writes, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. The "foolish Galatians" have turned back to observing the law and forgotten to set their eyes on the one who made those laws!

Indeed, Paul shares that the beauty of the Bible is that God's plan of redemption and salvation has been promised a long time ago! The Old Testament laws and promises were always and have always pointed to ONE amazing event - the birth and life of God's Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Galatians 3:15-25 says,

"Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."

So like I began this post quoting one of my youths, I am asking you to ask yourself that question. Stand up...walk around...Sit down...kneel down...do whatever it takes to come before God asking, "Am I lukewarm, Lord and ok with it?"... And then if you feel moved to do so ask Jesus how you can be on fire for Him...A good way to begin this prayer could be following the words in 1 Samuel, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."