A Little Reviving

A Little Reviving

In Michael Horton’s book “Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World,” he states that reviving (or, revival) usually comes gradually, in small steps. That’s not how we tend to think about this word. It tends not to be what we want. We want the big experience, the emotional event that might even attract the media. In light of Horton’s words, I thought Ezra’s humble prayer and phrase were interesting: “grant us a little reviving.”

“Revival” is related to the little-used “vivify.” It means to bring to life, or, to animate. Certainly it could refer to bringing the dead to life. But it can also refer to those who have been alive who have become sleepy, lethargic. To use both words, “a little reviving” could then be phrased, “small steps of re-vivification.” 

The condition is otherwise described in Revelation 3:1-6, in the letter to the church at Sardis. “You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God (vv. 2-3).” What is called for? It’s hard to miss the “Wake up!” part. A little further, we have the command to “remember” and “repent.” It all describes a prayerful activity in which the people who are serious about walking with the Lord (the “overcomers”) do exactly what Ezra was doing in Ezra 9: humbly and repentantly asking for God’s gracious activity in their midst.

At this moment in our time, as we prepare to join together for worship again next Sunday, June 14 - having been separated from one another for close to a quarter of a year - and having experienced worship and fellowship and discipleship in very different ways - I think we also, at this moment in our time, stand in need of “a little reviving.” Oh, I don’t mean to downplay the significance and value of great revivals, and if God so chooses to send that kind of disruptive grace into our lives, then we will thank the Lord and pray that the name of Christ will be magnified, and that it would touch the lives of a great number of people in saving and lasting ways

But, if Michael Horton, and Ezra, are right, that God ordinarily does his extra-ordinary work through ordinary means in ordinary people like us - through preaching and praying - then let us humbly, expectantly pray that God would re-shape our lives together, in our worship and fellowship, in our discipleship ministries to one another and in our evangelism ministries to those around us and around the world.