Encouraging Word
Recently, we have been hearing about spiritual revival. Revival is an awakening or strengthening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose; restoring something to a former condition; resuming an activity after an interruption or refreshing with new energy or strength. Here are some aides to revival: a clean heart, a clear mind, and a close walk with God. Matthew 16:24 provides direction on how to “stay close.” Jesus says, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” To stay close, one must seek, be selfless, submit, and be serious.
1. Seek. To seek (“If anyone wants to come after Me”) means: to attempt to find something, desire to obtain, search out, or pursue. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”
2. Selfless. One must be selfless (“Deny self”). Being selfless means: being concerned more about the needs of others than your own, being a servant, denying selfish desires, or stopping self-worship! Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.”
3. Submit. To stay close, one must submit (“take up your cross”). To submit looks like accepting or yielding to the authority of another or surrendering and ceasing to resist. In that day the cross meant sacrifice, suffering, and death. It also meant dying to self-will and submitting to God’s will. Galatians 2:20 should be our testimony, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” And we should pray Jesus’ prayer from Luke 22:42, where He said, “…not My will but Thine will be done.”
4. Be serious. To stay close means, we need to be serious about serving God (“follow Me”). Being serious includes demanding careful consideration, acting sincerely, and being thoughtful and intentional. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
So, let’s be sold out, committed, and dedicated. Let’s stay close by continuing to seek God, denying self, submitting to God’s will, and being serious in our living for Jesus!
-Tony Cooper
Former Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission
