Rain Righteousness upon You

Hosea 10:12 (English Standard Version)

¹² Sow for yourselves righteousness;
   reap steadfast love;
    break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
   that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

I read this scripture several days ago but all that happened at NewSpring over the weekend had me reading it again. God brought 276 people into His kingdom...the fallow ground of their hearts was broken and they sought the Lord in repentance and God rained righteousness upon them. Also 906 people took their next step with Jesus by being baptized by immersion.

What really amazes me is that so many of the people being baptized were "spur of the moment" decisions. The baptism was planned and many had already signed up but large numbers were people saying yes to Jesus right then, on Sunday. I love being part of a church that expects God to do HUGE things and prepares for it.

Our church provided towels, shorts, t-shirts, underwear, sports bras and feminine hygene products for anyone who wanted to be baptized. Perry preached about recognizing and submitting to Jesus. He talked about the infant baptism. He talked about the need to be baptized after salvation. He talked about baptism being the next step after salvation. He challenged people to do it "right now" and they did. One guy was watching online; knew he needed to be baptized; drove to the Anderson campus and got dunked.

It really makes me think, though, about people I DON'T ask to church for whatever reason. I am not giving them an opportunity to "break up the fallow ground." I have the responsibility to ask, God has the responsibility to save.