Author: Craig Mellendorf

Taking Your Temp - Part 2: Passion for Purity
2026 Theme: PASSION
Spiritual Thermometer #1: Passion for God stays close to the source.
Spiritual Thermometer #2: Passion for God loves and hates wrong.
We need the same attitude towards sin and righteousness that Christ has.
“Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
- Revelation 3:17-19
Keys to Loving Right & Hating Wrong
Jesus alluded to three things the city of Laodicea was noted for:
1. Wealth (Refined Gold)—Be and willing to
When gold is mined out of the ground, it is mixed with other elements. It must be refined in fire to become pure. It is a repeated purification process.
Receiving Christ isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. We’re to become like Jesus.
Being Willing to Change involves…
Willingness to some things – gold gives up impurities.
Going through – God uses them to strip away dependence upon self and create dependence and trust in Him.
2. Black Wool Clothing (vs. White Clothes)— Use God’s instead of our own.
Black sheep’s wool was used to make black clothing the city was famous for.
Jesus said buy white clothes from Me, don’t substitute your black garments.
The Bible reveals God’s standards. We need to feed ourselves the Word.
We grow lukewarm in our love for God when we compromise His standards.
3. Eye Salve—Pursue spiritual over physical indulgence.
The Laodiceans were blinded by their earthly abundance and oblivious to the spiritual reality around them. God wanted them to see with the eyes of the Spirit instead of the lens of the flesh.

Dave Walters