Corona Devo 1906

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...

(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 that person, and they with me.  ~Revelation 3:15-17, 19-20

~~~

Has apathy bound our wrists and gagged our mouths lately? 

Maybe we are so tired, or busy, or popular, or timid, or (name our excuse), that we haven't stood up for Jesus. 

...It's just easier to take a seat or to stay-seated or to not care, and so...we don't.

We are so sorry for our apathy, Lord.  

For these times when we bring dishonor to Your Holy and worthy Name...  For our apathy and lack of zeal for You...we are ashamed, Father. 

Your Word (in Revelation 3) is crystal clear about your tolerance for our tolerance and acceptance of the world and culture and the status quo over You, Lord.  When we do not stand for You, we allow darkness to advance.

Forgive us for being lukewarm today, Father.  When we are lukewarm and weak in our faith, then we open the door for satan and his followers to gain ground. 

We are ashamed of our lukewarm behavior, Lord.  And You are too:

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16).

If our faith has been lukewarm, may we feel the full weight of responsibility and conviction as we choose the easy path instead of Your path, Lord.  

Forgive us, Father.

If we are in the arena of apathy (toward God) today, Get Out!  (Lord, please help us get out.)  

Using whatever means possible, including (and especially) the Bible (God's Word)--stop(!) being apathetic toward the Lord and His call on us today to be in service to His (holy) Name and for His glory.

We tell ourselves that our participation doesn't make a difference and that "someone else" will step in and step up, and we are right.  Possibly another son or daughter of God the Father will take up the torch, but possibly a son or daughter of darkness will needle their way into the vacant space (or responsibility) that we have left agape.  Satan waits for us to become spiritually lazy--it is his best opportunity to advance his ugly methods.  

We're ashamed, Lord, for how we have negated our opportunities to stand-up-for and to-make-a-difference for You.  The weight of conviction is (appropriately) heavy.  Have mercy on us.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 

(2) Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  

(3) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 

(4) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 

 (7) Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow... 

(9) Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.  

(10) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  

(11) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  

(12) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me...

(17) My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.   ~Psalm 51:1-4, 7, 9-12, 17

~~~

It's hard to even ask for Your forgiveness because we know that we are not worthy of it, Lord.  

But we are blessed (undeservingly) that You provide mercy to us even though we are sometimes so far from deserving it.  

We're so sorry, Lord.  

How (in your grace) You still invite us to eat with You (after we have betrayed You) is beyond my understanding.  But Your mercy and Your presence is all that we crave, especially when we know we have disgraced You.  

We expect (and deserve) condemnation, but Your revolutionary love for us receives anyway, Lord.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  ~John 3:16-17

Forgive us, Father.  Your discipline is warranted, as is the rebuke that Your Word brings to our hearts.    

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  ~Revelation 3:19

We deserve your penance, Lord, but not Your love.  Yet You love us still, and always, and even though our apathy wins sometimes.  Please, may we join You again and eat with You if we repent?

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 that person, and they with me.  ~Revelation 3:19-20

God, You are remarkable, and Your forgiveness in the face of our apathy is mind-boggling, and life-saving.

We are so sorry for our apathy, Lord, and (because of Your Word), we feel the shame lifting and Your invitation knocking.  

Yes, we do hear Your voice and we are opening the door.  Please do come in and eat with us, and us with You.  

Amen.

~~~

Is there an opportunity before us today in which we can serve and represent the Lord?  Let's be intentional and active in our faith and Lord, help us to abandon our apathy and open the door to You!

Blessings,  
sarah  
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com