Spiritual Renewal that Lasts
- by: Paul Hussey 04/08/08
A MOMENT IN GOD'S WORD
Read 2 Chronicles 7:14.
In the motion picture Almost Famous, the main character is a budding teenage music critic who goes on tour with a popular rock band in the 1970s. His innocence is shattered in the real world of sex, drugs, and greed. At the same time his refreshing presence among the band members forces them to reevaluate their manner of living.
Flying to a city for a major concert, the group encounters severe turbulence that shakes their small plane like a rattle in the hand of an infant. Death suddenly becomes a real possibility and one by one each band member begins to confess his most grievous sin. One band member admits to having an affair with another member's wife. A second person recalls that he once hit a pedestrian with his car but sped away from the accident. A third guy reveals that he is gay. Fortunately, the pilot flies the plane out of the storm without losing control. Just as quickly as the confessions started when the band members thought they were about to meet their Maker, the conversations stopped as the plane landed smoothly.
Often the spiritual revival we see among some people lasts only until they fly out of the storm. The turbulence in their lives is a time to be honest about their faults, but their forthrightness is forced instead of emerging from a desire to really change. Their repentance falls short of God's demands. They may be sorry for their wrongdoings, but they are not willing to change. They may want to get off their chests those failures in the past, but they do not truly seek God's forgiveness. They may want to face death with a clear conscience but not with a clean heart. Their repentance does not go far enough, or deep enough, or high enough.
Do you have some sin that weighs heavily on your mind, especially if you are facing a time of serious surgery, or intense counseling, or a terminal illness? Then follow the exhortations of 2 Chr. 7:14--all of them, all the way, and all to God. Then God can truly work spiritual renewal in your life.
A MOMENT IN PRAYER
Pray that a spirit of revival begins to grip our city and that it starts with us at First Baptist Church.
A MOMENT IN SERVICE
Volunteers will be needed to help stage the First Baptist Church Spring Golf Tournament. LeRoy Miller has already signed up. Will the next person be you?
A MOMENT IN TIME
April 15 is tax day. . .as if you didn't know.
April 20 is the crawfish boil. Invite a neighbor.