Time set apart for refocusing and refreshing is never in vain. Whether that pause is a moment in a day, or a retreat from the every day, reflecting on the goodness of God, remembering His promises and faithfulness give courage and vision to go on. This is what we experienced in Glen Rose.
In Acts 3:19, Peter exhorts the gathered crowd to “repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” the connotation is often that one has messed up and needs to start over. However, there is so much more that Peter’s exhortation calls to us. Let’s consider what we heard from the Lord while we were assembled.
First, God has a kingdom (no kidding!😆), and His desire from the foundation of the earth was to be God/King to a people who would willingly choose His Lordship. Human nature was created to depend on someone who knows more. This fact is the basis for the success of “Angie’s List.” We let strangers into our homes, our inner sanctums so to speak based upon the recommendation of someone who has experienced the work of the stranger and has subsequently referred said stranger. How much more should we return to a trust of the recommendation of our Creator? The expert in human design? The One who knows all of our coming and going? Who knows all of our sitting and standing? Who knows all of our inward thoughts? Refreshing comes when we return to our optimal operating mode in the presence of the Lord being filled with His pleasures.
So why don’t we return if it is so easy to do so? Our human (sinful) nature has two primary issues working against such a rest of faith. The law of sowing and reaping, a.k.a. the law of sin and death rules the world in which we live, and common sense. We work in order to get, in every thing. We go to work to get a paycheck, which in turn becomes the reward of our work. The value of our work is thus measured by the gratification of the reward. In other words, more money means more pleasures, more pleasures means greater reward. All of this, of course is after being responsible, paying for our own living expenses. Likewise, we praise in order to get the presence of the Lord. The more we sing, the more presence we get and greater the reward. To put it that way makes singing praise sound cheap. The truest praise and purest worship comes as a response to His presence and recognized with spontaneous adoration. Common sense will blind us to uncommon grace and truth. Common sense needs A plus B to equal C, or it will strive to make it so to the point of fighting the Lord Himself.
Second, there is a glory in God’s Kingdom that we can easily miss while caught up in what is no more than the glory of the moment. We see and experience many exciting and extraordinary events that bring us to our feet and full throat rejoicing throughout our lives. Whether it is the birth of a child or a championship sports victory, a musical performance or a scientific breakthrough, significant moments can move us as humans to great celebration and euphoria. However, in the midst of all that we readily see stands the Lamb of God as if slain, whom we can easily overlook. He alone is worthy to unlock the seals and release all that is written in the book of life. We often experience what He releases in the midst of life, but miss the fact that He is the One who did the releasing, and that just for love of us! Genuine fulfillment occurs when we embrace the Lamb and tie ourselves to Him that we may see the full glory of what He has released.
Thirdly, the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Not because we will eventually “get it” and work it out, but rather because God is faithful. His gifts are given based on who He is. Their effectiveness is completely reliant upon our embracing the same thing, who He is.
The fellowship with the saints of Living Waters was deep and rich. We worshipped together, we studied together, we played and laughed together. We lived the abundant eternal life that Jesus promises and delivers on a daily basis. I am thankful for the privilege to be a part of their number. They love the Lord their God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and they love one another as themselves. The whole church embodies the spirit of uncommon hospitality that is lived and modeled by all their leaders, but especially Kevin and Wendy Cude. The church purposes every year to take this time apart to draw close to the heart of God. Their place in Hamilton, TX is their room in His house on earth together with a passion for all to enter in. The welcome mat is always present and inviting all who come to enter in, and those that do find the invitation is really from our Heavenly Father!
"Come up here..." Rev. 4:1 