Greg sends these devotional thoughts for today:
The joy of restoration may show up in our loves in many different ways. We may be restored to health, our relationship with another person may be restored, or we may be restored into communion with God. Knowing God as our restorer, as the one who sets things right in our lives, reveals this joy to us. Hear a psalm about the restoration of homecoming:
It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion's exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn't believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of nations -
"GOD was wonderful to them!"
GOD was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.
And now, GOD do it again -
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
so those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
- Psalm 126, The Message
What about God's restoration of our lives, giving us fresh starts? We often miss the joy, and opportunity to praise God, for the second chances we are afforded.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went into the temple courts, walking, and jumping, and praising God.
- Acts 3:6-8 (italics added)
Yesterday we contemplated the joy that accompanies God's forgiveness of our sins and transformation of our hearts. We noted that this transformation erases the distance between us and God, bringing us closer to the joy of Heaven. Today we will focus on the joy we find in the process of restoration by which the gap between God and us is bridged.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles,
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
- The Song of Simeon
Simeon speaks these words in Scripture when he sees Jesus for the first time (as a baby). Simeon has such joy because he has seen God's restoration of all mankind to Himself, saying "my eyes have seen your salvation".
God's restoration is good news, joyful news, because it signifies that things have been set right. Disability, disease, captivity, broken relationships, and sin may threaten to overwhelm us, but God will restore us. We may walk through the valley now for a time, but we will be restored to God, and thus completely restored when we pass from this world to the next. None of these factors has the last word on our lives, because God is a fixer, someone who makes things whole again. We cannot ruin our lives forever, because God will take us back, and will restore us if we depend on him whole-heartedly.
In fact, the joy of restoration is, at is heart, the joy of being made whole. God makes us whole again by healing relationships, mending broken hearts, saving from sin. He brings us back to what we originally were - what we were intended to be. This is causing for rejoicing!
May you know the joy of healing and of restoration today.
