(See also previous post) I came across a reference to Saturnalia whilst reading an historical novel. There was a passing comment about a slave owner who decided to free his slaves at Saturnalia. The slaves who were looking forward to a week of being served by their owners were not best pleased with the timing. They thought the owner was being a cheapskate. (Probably true.) Yet when we are offered freedom in Christ our reaction can be similar to those slaves, we think of the worldly pleasures that we are being asked to forego for a short time rather than be grateful for being saved in eternity. Not only does this stop people from accepting Christ in the first place, but too often we look back like Lot’s wife. James also refers with disdain on those who are “double-minded.” All too soon our fire cools down to Laodicean lukewarmness. We hear endless talk of revival, but few today know what that would entail, when one studies the histories of genuine revivals there has been a single-mindedness of purpose of those who were responsible for their initiation, often praying intensely for weeks on end before revival manifested itself. These days there seem to be too many distractions that prevent us from being of that mindset. I am guilty as anyone else of this, so do not look to me as to how to overcome this, I am struggling myself.

David Rose, 2013.