Spring is a beautiful time for renewal. As the earth is rejuvenating itself, it may be time for you to consider the same. Romans 12:1-2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Although the renewal the earth is going through now is physical, the most important renewal one can go through is spiritual.
Some would believe that renewal is a nebulous or ethereal process with no definitive steps. But the need for renewal presupposes a condition of sin, which we all have (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-18, 23). Acts 3:19 speaks of the “times of refreshing” which referred to a state of cheer and encouragement after a period of having been troubled or upset. Its use in the New Testament indicates the refreshing relief of the salvation promised to Israel and ultimately the entire world — “the restitution of all things” (v. 21).
The “refreshing” and “restitution” is what Jesus pronounced in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” This spiritual refreshment is provided in Christ’s gospel. If someone obeys it, they have encountered spiritual renewal; they have been “born again” (John 3:3; Titus 3:5).
The Christian who has fallen away needs to repent and be restored with the Lord and His faithful service. They renew themselves by worshiping with the saints and building themselves up in the most holy faith (Hebrews 10:24-25; Jude 20). Paul wrote, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Kyle Campbell
