Hey there, friends. Have you ever read a verse and it felt like a punch to the gut? That’s Galatians 1:6 for me. Paul’s writing to the church in Galatia, and he’s not mincing words: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Ouch. Paul’s calling them out—they’re drifting, chasing something that’s not the real deal. And then, fast-forward to Revelation 3:14-22, where Jesus drops a truth bomb on the church in Laodicea, calling them lukewarm—neither hot nor cold, just… meh.
So, what’s the thread here? What’s the Spirit whispering to us through these ancient words? Let’s unpack this together and ask some hard questions about what it means to call ourselves Christians when our lives might be telling a different story.
The Galatians Drift
Picture this: Paul’s writing to a group of people who’ve tasted the freedom of the gospel. They’ve heard the good news—that Jesus’ grace is enough, that His love has set them free. But now, they’re wobbling. They’re flirting with a “different gospel,” one that’s more about rules, performance, and checking boxes than the wild, untamed grace of Christ. Paul’s not just annoyed; he’s astonished. Like, “How do you walk away from something this good? How do you trade the real thing for a knockoff?”
Sound familiar? I mean, don’t we do this too? We say we’re all in for Jesus, but then life gets messy. We get distracted. We start chasing things that feel like the gospel but aren’t—maybe it’s the approval of others, the hustle for success, or even a version of faith that’s more about looking good than being transformed. What’s pulling you away from the real gospel today? What’s that thing you’re tempted to add to grace, as if grace alone isn’t enough?
The Lukewarm Life
Now, let’s jump to Revelation. Jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea, and He doesn’t hold back. He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Yikes. That’s not exactly the warm fuzzies we expect from Jesus, right? But here’s the deal: He’s not mad because they’re failing at perfection. He’s grieved because they’re sitting on the fence, half-hearted, playing it safe.
Lukewarm isn’t about being a “bad Christian.” It’s about being comfortable. It’s saying you’re a follower of Jesus while your life looks no different from the world around you. It’s showing up to church, singing the songs, posting the Bible verses, but not letting the radical love of Christ reshape your priorities, your relationships, your choices. It’s the ultimate “meh” faith—neither fully committed nor fully opposed, just coasting.
So, let’s get real for a second. Where are you lukewarm? Where are you saying one thing with your words but living something else entirely? Maybe it’s in how you treat that coworker who gets under your skin. Or how you spend your time, your money, your energy. If someone watched your life for a week, would they see a fire for Jesus or just… tepid vibes?
No Fence-Sitting Allowed
Here’s the thing: both Paul and Jesus are drawing a line in the sand. There’s no middle ground in this faith. It’s not about being perfect—goodness knows we all stumble. It’s about direction. Are you moving toward Christ, or are you drifting toward something else? Are you all in, or are you hedging your bets?
In Galatians, Paul’s begging the church to come back to the real gospel—the one that’s all about Jesus’ grace, not human effort. In Revelation, Jesus is pleading with the Laodiceans to wake up, to choose fire over apathy. He even ends with this beautiful invitation: “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 3:20). That’s not a threat; that’s a promise. Jesus wants in. He wants all of you—not just the parts that look good on Sunday morning.
So, what does it mean to open the door? What would it look like to live a life that’s unmistakably marked by the gospel? Not just in what you say, but in how you love, how you forgive, how you stand up for what’s right even when it’s costly. What’s stopping you from going all in?
The Challenge of Being All In
Let’s be honest: being all in for Jesus is scary. It’s messy. It means letting go of the “different gospels” we cling to—whether that’s the gospel of comfort, the gospel of control, or the gospel of “I’ll follow Jesus as long as it doesn’t mess with my plans.” It means choosing the heat of passion over the safety of lukewarm. It means living in a way that makes people notice—not because you’re loud or flashy, but because there’s something different about you, something that points to Him.
I wonder, what would happen if we stopped trying to straddle the fence? What if we let go of the need to look like we have it all together and instead leaned into the wild, reckless grace of Jesus? What if we lived in a way that made people ask, “Who is this Jesus you follow?” not because we’re perfect, but because we’re real—broken, redeemed, and fully His?
A Final Pondering
So, here we are, sitting with Galatians 1:6 and Revelation 3:14-22. Two passages, centuries apart, both calling us to the same truth: there’s no such thing as a half-hearted Christian. You’re either moving toward the real gospel or drifting toward something else. You’re either hot, cold, or—God forbid—lukewarm.
What’s it gonna be for you? What’s the “different gospel” you need to let go of? Where are you playing it safe when Jesus is knocking, asking for more? And what would it look like to open the door, to let Him in, to live a life that’s all in—no fence-sitting, no holding back?
Let’s ponder that together. Because the gospel isn’t just a story we tell—it’s a life we live. And Jesus is worth it all.
Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott.
Pastor's Ponderings 
Thanks Scott.
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