Fireworks!

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have note found your deeds completed in the sight of my God.  So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” (Revelation 3: 1-3))

The Fourth of July is a time of fireworks exploding in the heavens.  This is of course to celebrate the founding of our country and our physical freedom.  Do you remember the “fireworks” when you committed your life to Christ?  Do you remember how you felt when you first rose up out of the watery grave of baptism, knowing that your sins were forgiven?  Y our heart was filled with gratitude for your freedom from your sins. (Romans 6:3-7).

Being born again and having your sins forgiven was an exciting time.  It was a time of hope, happiness, commitment, and great love for the Father.  A burning zeal for Jesus and the church filled your heart.  There was zeal in serving God, and a hunger for the word of God.  Those were the days of fireworks in your heart.

Then, perhaps, things began to happen.  Earning a living, taking care of needs, weariness in doing good, and life sapped your zeal over the years.  The fireworks faded, and your heart cooled.  Apathy has taken over where once joy overflowed in your heart.  We have all been weak spiritually at times.

As the Spirit through John wrote to Sardis, now is the time to awake. “For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14).  Now is the time to reignite the fuse, to experience the fireworks again!  It is time to turn again to the Lord.  As a song expresses it:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence; Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and renew a right spirit within me.

Examine yourself; remember the fireworks that you had when you first believed.  Let God renew your love and zeal for Him.

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Loving, merciful Father, renew our love for You.  Awaken our love, our zeal for You, Father.  Remind us of what we were like when we first came to You. Set our hearts on fire again, and let others see our lives as fireworks for You.  This we ask in the name of our Lord, Christ Jesus.          ~ Ed

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Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)