Jesus told the church in Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing…” (Revelation 3:15-17, ESV). That last line is probably the most tragic thing someone could say to God.
I don’t think most modern believers in America would ever say out loud, “That’s me too. I need nothing from God.” We say it sometimes in our actions, though. We say it in our schedule, our time spent, our passions, our dreams. Our goals and the layout of our days say, “I don’t really need the Holy Spirit because I can do this myself. I don’t need time in prayer because I have the wisdom to move ahead in my own strength.”
Jesus knows better. He went on in verse 17. “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Jesus wrote this letter to say, both then and now, “Please come back to me. You don’t realize how badly you need me.”
There’s an old hymn that says, “I need Thee every hour most gracious Lord. No tender voice like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee. O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee…”
God is our source of life and power in life. Jesus is our past, present and future. He’s our all in all. Nothing compares to him.
When I sit down to read my Bible every morning, I pray, “Lord, keep speaking to me. Do not pass by me. In this time I have with you today, please meet with me. I need you. I need a fresh touch from heaven. I need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit’s power and grace.” Will you join me in praying that each day? We never need God any less, no matter how smoothly life is going.