Lukewarm Friends

Bible Reading: Revelation 3:14-16

“Can I have something cold to drink, Mom?” Violet asked as she came in one hot

afternoon.

“Sure, but I think ice water is all we have,” said Mom. “We’re even out of milk.”

“We have powdered milk though, don’t we? Can I use it to make chocolate milk?”

“Good idea.” Mom took out the box of powdered milk. “Here you go. The chocolate syrup is in the fridge.”

Violet mixed some of the powder with water. “I need some advice,” she said as she added the chocolate syrup. “There’s a new girl at school—Amayah. She’s nice, and I enjoy talking with her when it’s just the two of us. But my other friends don’t care to get to know her, so when they want me to ignore Amayah and play with them, I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you think God wants you to do?” asked Mom.

“Well, I know I should be friendly, and I am…sort of.” Violet sighed. “But I don’t want to lose my other friends.” She took a sip of her milk, then made a face. “This tastes awful!” she exclaimed. “What did I do wrong?”

“The water from the tap isn’t very cold, so your milk is probably lukewarm,” Mom replied. “I think chocolate milk has to be either hot or cold to taste good.”

“I never thought of that, but that’s the problem,” agreed Violet. “It isn’t good lukewarm.”

“No,” said Mom, “and I think that may be your problem with Amayah too. I’m afraid you’re being a lukewarm friend.”

“What do you mean?” asked Violet.

“You’re friendly with her when you have nothing to lose, but not when others are watching. You’re neither hot nor cold, but somewhere in between. Your friendship with Amayah reminds me of a warning Jesus gives in the Bible about Christians who have a lukewarm relationship with Him. They want to be friends with Him only when it’s convenient. Is that the kind of friend Jesus is to us?”

“No. He loves us so much He died for our sins. And He wants me to be a good friend to Amayah.” Violet pushed her glass of milk away. “I’m going to be a friend like Him and invite Amayah to play with me tomorrow—no matter what anybody thinks.” • Karen E. Cogan

How About You?

Are you friends with Jesus? Do you follow and obey Him—even when it’s not convenient? He loves you and wants you to be His friend and show His love to others. Trust Him to help you do that, even when other people may not like it. Don’t be a lukewarm friend—or a lukewarm Christian. Make your friendship with Jesus more important than anyone else’s opinion.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Kings 8:23 You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t be a lukewarm friend