I know how Paul must have felt.

I was thinking about my next trip to Africa when I began to read 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. I know exactly how Paul was feeling and what he was thinking as he wrote the chapter because I have felt and thought the same way.

Like he said in verse one I know that my coming to those on the mission field was not in vain. Too many people saved and too many new churches started and are still going strong. (vr 1)

The only suffering I have been through has been sickness, flight problems, coming up with lots of money and for the past 4 or 5 years my trips have taken me out of the country at the worst possible time. But I wouldn’t change a thing. (vr 2)

God has entrusted me with the gospel and that is exactly what I share with them. I could entice them with another gospel and promise them riches and that everything will be rosy but I don’t. Some do. (vrs 3,4 & 5)

I go as an ambassador of Christ. A missionary, yes but not to lord it over people. Missionaries are held in high esteem in many places but I try to be just another man just like they are. (vr 6)

I have fallen in love with all the different peoples I have been blessed by God to go into their world. Saving my money up, praying for God’s Spirit to go before me long before the actual trip takes place. And while there I am always looking for ways that I can be a blessing. (vrs 7 – 12)

I’ll never forget the time a man told me that he had heard the gospel before but never understood it until I presented it to him. That it was clear and now he understands. (vr 13)

I’ve had to deal with religious people who did not want me to go and be there and have tried to make things hard on me. Some from my own church and some from the mission field but it always backfires and I am more determined to share the gospel. (vrs 14 – 16)

The people that have prayed to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, now approaching 500 souls are so dear to me. Not only have their names been written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life but I have written them down myself. I never plan on forgetting them, ever. I want to go back and check up on them to see how they are doing but I must trust them in the hands of other people and to God. When I soon go again it will be to share the gospel with new people that I have never met but will never forget. (vrs 17 – 20)

alight

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Let’s see if I got this right. For true revival to come we need to humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and then we are to “turn from our wicked ways”. Now wait just a minute there! It like to have killed me to humble myself. Praying wasn’t too hard that is when I had time. Seeking God’s face is for sure a life long journey but I am game but to turn from my wicked ways?

Now I have been a Christian and going to church for 33 years. I tithe and give and love to help others, why I go on mission trips all over creation. You mean to tell me that I have to open my closet, the closet that I hide stuff in? Now I don’t mind commenting on other people’s closet but my own? What will people think of me if I come clean?

Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” But I am a saint, I leave a trail of feathers behind me when I walk, I give the best advice to those who are on the bottom and are having a hard time getting back up. They would never listen to me again!

Turn from my wicked ways? Now surely that will be an easy one. This step in getting revived is a piece of cake. Shoot, I don’t smoke, drink or cuss; I don’t cheat on my wife or steal from the company. I have to admit that I am a pretty good guy!

Well, I did slander my boss but he deserved it and the drug dealer up the road. Well, he doesn’t have a job, how else could he afford to live like that? And that time I looked twice at that woman wearing that revealing outfit, hmm brings cold chills all over me to think “how dare her”. And that time I lied when I said that I just looked twice and it was more like three or four times.

But isn’t this all just nitpicking? I am afraid not. The bible has said all along, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” And again, “But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” And to know that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) it would do us good to examine ourselves closely and swing open the closet doors and “TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS”.

If we really want true revival in our lives we must take heed to all the steps God has laid out. You know it and I know it that real happiness and joy is being right with God and close enough to His side that we are touching. And if we do our part then God promises to do His part. He goes on to say….. (Oh no, I think I hear deer coming, I’m in the Penthouse typing this by the way, I’ll just have to finish later.)

Blessings,

alight