Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Acts 3:19
How refreshing to wake up this morning and be greeted by the rain (not that we have any garden or landscaping yet that would benefit from the good soaking!).
“Refreshing” is a great word. The dictionary (Merriam-Webster) defines refresh as “to restore strength, energy, or vigor. It involves reviving something that has become faded, tired, or depleted, returning it to a vibrant or functional state.”
In 1929, Coca-Cola introduced the highly successful slogan “The Pause that Refreshes,” associating the drink with emotional wellbeing.
Refreshment is a spiritual truth too. It all comes from the ancient Hebrew word “Nephesh,” which was associated with the idea of Sabbath rest, where God paused from the work of creation and where we are invited to experience life-giving replenishment in the same way.
Nephesh has to do with vitality of being, of having life, of sentience. It goes beyond simply the ability to draw breath but also speaks of soul. What God designed Sabbath for was to refresh our life, to restore our vitality and the resources from which we draw life. – “Getting my Nephesh replenished”
Jesus associated the deep and life-giving refreshment of water with the refreshment that comes from drinking the “Living Water” he offers. Refreshment, replenishment, revival, restoration. Everything to do with refreshment is about reactivating – or breathing life into – something that is already there to begin with.
In other words, God planted the seed of life inside of us long ago – that is true for all of humanity – and what Peter describes as “times of refreshing” are ours for the asking so long as we are willing to humble ourselves, to turn around and to stand out in the rain.
I think we can best understand the idea of “sins” as the stuff that gets in the way of the refreshing – and sin is also implicated in the fact that we are depleted. “Repenting” is simply turning around, 180-degrees, so that we can move away from the distractions, the misplaced priorities, the life-sucking “gods” that command our allegiance.
Not worth the cost!
Whatever we are choosing to do (or to let control us) that keeps us away from the refreshing and invigorating wash of God’s love and grace and mercy is 100% not worth the cost.
The notion that faith in God is incompatible with a full, pleasurable and invigorating life is patently false. The opposite is true. This is what Jesus referred to as “abundant life,” “more and better life than you ever dreamed of,” “life in all of its fullness,” “full and overflowing,” “a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10, various translations).
Times of refreshing! Who wouldn’t want some of that? – DEREK
“Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Malachi 3:10