This is usually a time of year where we are through the Christmas rush and New Year’s celebration, and it is time to consider the options for our possible New Year’s Resolution. I have an idea for your new resolution that I would like to share with you today.
I have heard a lot during the past few months about the possibility of a “Christian revival” now taking place throughout our country. Yet, I have heard inconsistent information regarding the impact of such a revival. I have heard that church attendance is up, Bible sales are up, and more young people are questioning the true meaning of their life and are searching for direction. However, is this information real, and does it have traction to continue? Or might it be just another short-lived effort?
My personal feeling is that our country is reaching a crossroads regarding our Christian beliefs. Our country and the world are throwing up more roadblocks against the profession of Christian faith! All of our coins and denominations of dollar bills that we have contain the words “In God we trust”. Also, our Pledge to Allegiance to the United States has not been changed since 1954. The last change was made in response to the Communist threat at that time, as President Eisenhower in response to citizen petitions encouraged Congress to add two words, underlined below, creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Our Pledge of Allegiance now reads – I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Yes, this change was only made in 1954, I would have guessed it was with us for a much longer time.
The question is how can we, as individuals or as a church, contribute to any sort of Christian revival that may be underway throughout our country? And how can we ensure that such a revival will have true strength and meaning over time?
I believe that there are a number of ways we can support such a revival, and it is our obligation to do so as members of God’s family!! We all have some sphere of influence surrounding us, whether it be family and friends that we engage with regularly (or irregularly!), co-workers, people we just come into contact with on our daily walk, etc. I would like to suggest that we offer such folks support in their decision to know and follow Jesus Christ in their life a gift to remind them of our support whenever they think of Jesus as Savior. Such a gift could be a daily devotional, such as Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Grace For The Moment by Max Lucado, and Calm Moments For Anxious Days also by Max Lucado.
These are all devotionals that I have used the past few years to share what I considered to be important messages with you. Covenant Church has been distributing Jesus Calling for many years, and has distributed many hundreds (maybe thousands ?) of these books over the years, including on mission trips in which Covenant Church was involved.
I would highly recommend www.christianbook.com as a website to use if you would like to order a gift for anyone you may know who is new to the Christian faith. Their phone number to order from is 800-247-4784. [However, please note that you can use whatever source you prefer to order any gift, if you already have such a source.]
New believers need our encouragement! This website has coffee cups, yearly planners, angels with Christian messages, music boxes, and a large assortment of gifts that can encourage young Christian believers, especially during difficult times that they will experience. Or maybe you should just send a gift to a lifelong Christian who may be undergoing difficult times right now, personally, from you!
In addition, I have ordered a number of Jesus Calling and Calm Moments For Anxious Days books, which I will have at Covenant Church this Sunday. They are for you to take and use as you would like – hopefully, to give them away to somewhat new believers and to encourage them in their walk as they grow in their faith in Jesus Christ!
I pray that all of us at Covenant Church will take it to heart to find and support new Christian believers in whatever way we can to support their Christian growth!!!! The Godly future of our country may depend on it!