True Revival

We are a generation

lulled to sleep

by endless distraction.

Is a song sufficient

to wake us up?

Is deciding a revival is going to begin

enough to make it genuine?

What if it’s not?

What if revival

requires a cross?

Perhaps revival requires more than singing.

Perhaps revival requires seeing

the glory of God

in the face of his Son.

What if revival means being undone

by a realization that our sin

is deeper and dirtier than we could ever begin

to imagine.

All our best works

are filthy rags before

the Author of salvation.

Oh to see a humble people weep

at the foot of His cross,

broken by this reality:

“Christ died to save a wretch like me.”

Perhaps true revival means

true repentance,

a turning from sin

to worship in spirit

and in truth.

If we want to see revival

then we must return to sound doctrine,

for our faith is not built on emotion

but on a King, a cross, and a crown.

So may every word we preach

be exposited faithfully

according to God’s authority.

May every word we sing

be measured by Scripture,

not by popularity.

God sent his son to die

while we were still his enemies.

Don’t we want to worship this God rightly?

Dear Christian, he is worthy.

And so, on the brink of all this change,

while hearts are expectant

and relying on grace,

may we remember to behold the face

of Jesus.

And may we behold it rightly

according to the beauty

of his inspired word.

If we are going to have a revival

then let it be fruitful.

May we stop singing songs

that center on self instead of our God.

May we stop preaching words

that fit our agenda

instead of faithfully proclaiming

God’s plan of redemption.

May we magnify our King.

Only he is worthy of such a title.

Only he is able

to bring revival.