Revive Us Again, O God

 

Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. (Psalm 85:4-8 ESV).

 

I have procrastinated this series. Perhaps it’s because I have been too timid to write what has been embedded in my heart; or, perhaps it’s that I wasn’t sure that I have reached a place where I can write it with equal parts of truth-telling and grace-giving. In any case I am committed to taking my time, doing the study, praying over each word, and writing what I believe is essential in this time in which we live. My hope is that it will stir each person who reads it to spend time in the Scripture, praying for the mercy of God to once again restore us.

 

We have seen these kinds of times historically. In fact, it was such a time over five hundred years ago in October of 1517 when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, setting in motion a movement that rocked Europe. I’m unconvinced that he thought it would start such a world-changing movement, and though many other factors joined to launch the Protestant Reformation, God used a revival in Luther’s heart to start a revival of Christianity in his time. Perhaps God will use these feeble briefs to do the same.

 

Our Scripture today from Psalm 85 calls for a revival that begins with the Holy Spirit working in individual hearts, bringing a refreshing return to God with passion and zeal. Revival is not a random burst of energy and emotion but is based on truth found in the Scripture. For Luther and other Reformers of the 16th century, the revival that came to be called the Protestant Reformation was based on five enduring principles. They are called “the sola’s.” True Christian faith is based on Scripture alone, on salvation in Christ alone, by grace alone and through faith alone, and all of this is for glory to God alone. These five points summarize the key principles of the Reformation.

 

As we ponder these teachings that were rediscovered long ago, may their truth work in our hearts to strengthen and revive us, making us agents of revival wherever God has placed us. Join me in praying for such a revival in our day!