This week we continue our look at The Profile of The Lukewarm Person. Last week we examined nine characteristics of Lukewarm People. This week we will examine nine more characteristics. As we do this, we want to search our own hearts and lives to determine where we reflect this Lukewarm spirit, so that we can appeal to GOD for forgiveness and deliverance from this paralyzing spirit.

More Characteristics of Lukewarm People

• Lukewarm People love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with.  There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached (Examine Matthew 5:43-47 and Luke 14:12-14).
• Lukewarm People will serve GOD and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give (Examine Luke 18:21-25).
• Lukewarm People think about life on earth much more often than eternity in Heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule, and next month's vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come (Examine Philippians 3:18-20 and Colossians 3:2).
• Lukewarm People are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. They are quick to point out, "Jesus never said that money is the root of all evil, only the love of money is." Untold numbers of Lukewarm People feel "called" to minister to the rich, while very few feel called to minister to the poor (Examine Matthew 25:34, 40 and Isaiah 58:6-7).
• Lukewarm People do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them. They ask things like, "How far can I go before it is considered a sin?" instead of "How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?" Or they ask, "How much do I have to give?" instead of "How much can I give (Examine 1 Chronicles 29:14 and Matthew 13:44-46)?"
• Lukewarm People are continually concerned with playing it safe. They are slaves to the god of control. This focus on being safe keeps them from sacrificing and risking for GOD (Examine 1 Timothy 6:17-18 and Matthew 10:28).
• Lukewarm People feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age 12, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote for the right party, or live in America (Examine Matthew 7:21 and Amos 6:1).
• Lukewarm People do not live by faith very much of the time. Their lives are structured so that they never have to do so. They do not have to trust GOD if something unexpected happens - they have their savings account. They do not need GOD to help them - they have their retirement plans in place. They do not genuinely seek out what life GOD would have them live - they have life figured and mapped out. They do not depend on GOD on a daily basis - their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is their lives would not look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in GOD altogether (Examine Luke 12:16-21 and Hebrews 11).
• Lukewarm People are not that different from the typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they could not be more wrong (Examine Matthew 23:25-28).

Once again, I want to reinforce the thought that this series is not intended to be judgmental or pious. I am using these characteristics as a litmus test for my own faith and life. Please reflect on the characteristics and read the associated passages, and let us all pray for transformation that only the Holy Spirit can bring to our hearts and lives.