Convicted?

In the 1981 movie Stripes, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are asked a question by their recruiting officer. "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" Murray and Ramis looked at each other and said, "Convicted? No, never convicted." Funny - implying the were probably guilty of a felony, just never convicted of it. Have you ever been convicted? If we call ourselves a Christian we should have felt convicted at SOME point in our lives.

This past Sunday our pastor delivered a sermon out of the Book of Revelation. Most people hear the word "revelation" and immediately think of End Times events. Others don't know WHAT to think about the book since their churches don't teach out of the book. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is really an encouragement to His church. Us.

This past Sunday that "encouragement" left me feeling a little convicted. And that has made all the difference in the world this week as I began walking a little closer with Jesus.

The text that got my attention was this:

² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent." - Revelation 2:2-6

Ouch.

When you first gave your life to Jesus, do you remember what it felt like? Some describe coming to faith in Christ as a "mountaintop experience". I think that's because, in many cases, it can be "downhill" from there. We tend to lose that fire we had at the beginning of our relationship with Jesus.

So, how do we regain that fire we once had? Get closer to Jesus! Here's what you can do. These things will work if you are feeling distant from God and want to be closer to Him. Do what HE did.

1. Read more. Jesus quoted scripture quite often. Do we? I try to fill my spare moments with reading the Bible. The time I used to spend on Facebook has decreased in favor of reading.
2. Serve more. God gave us each gifts. Use them specifically for Him. What are your gifts? Use them for God's glory.
3. Love more. Invest in your relationships.
4. Pray more. Prayer is how we talk to God. We speak to our earthly friends more often than we speak to God. Why is that? Because we're distant from Him.

My friends, if we have never felt convicted by God's Word, His Holy Spirit does not live in us and we are still dead. Resuscitate yourself today!

Here's one of my favorite Christmas songs but it also speaks to what each of us must have happen in our lives to become born again. Seek Him, Ask Him to restore that fire. May He be born IN you today!

I love you guys!

Be Born In Me - Francesca Battistelli

Never Convicted - Stripes