The leper was cured. His body was restored. The bio-nerd in me wonders what that looked like. How bad off did he look pre-Jesus?
Tag: restoration
I think again about Eden and how Adam and Eve walked in unbroken fellowship with God. Isn’t that the highest aim of Spirit empowerment? We hope to hear God’s heart and leading and possess the strength to follow Him unflinchingly. As Spirit-filled believers we experience Eden again by some small measure. Additionally, we carry a bit of Eden into every interaction, conversation, meeting and meal.
I have limited opportunity to take my trash to the curb. The garbage guys, God bless ’em, only come by once a week. If we fail to roll out the bin, we’re out of luck for seven more days. This is not the case with our God. He is always, endlessly ready to receive our trash! He’s waiting, with forgiveness in hand, happy to exchange our sin for righteousness. Isn’t that amazing?
Rest makes room for repentance. When one slows their soul to God’s speed, they suddenly become aware of all the ways they’ve fallen short. They have time and space to feel the angst in their frame and address the issue. Rest allows for repentance and repentance is the reset button; the presser is awarded another opportunity to live God’s way.
Peter instinctively understood what we all need to hear: confession draws us near to God where concealment pushes us further away. Peter’s heart posture of desperation set him up for restoration.
Real prayer is gritty and raw. Real prayer involves the give and take of forgiveness. Real prayer recognizes the audacity of the Creator communing with His creation.
Remember, the prodigal’s father is a description of Father God. He’s the One pacing the proverbial front porch, waiting for any sign on the horizon of wayward kids coming home. He runs out to meet us with forgiveness and restoration in hand: ready and willing to clothe us in righteousness and receive us again as beloved members of his household.
Where do we go when our soul suffers wounding? Psalm 119:28 tells us: we climb into the bacta tank of scripture. We find healing in the ancient yet alive promises of God. Our soul is somehow miraculously restored by the lasting power of His holy Word.
We look to to the holy God and we recall how His Kingdom is coming; a Kingdom of righteousness and truth and total restoration.
Jesus suggested exactly that. “Come away… and get some rest.” Jesus invited His disciples and us alike: ‘Join Me in a place devoid of distraction. Let My presence minister to your overstimulation and restore your soul again.’ The cure for our overwhelmed soul is not the endless scroll of instagram or Facebook. We won’t be brought back to life by binging Netflix or even disappearing into a favorite fiction book for a few hours. We can’t eat or sleep away our feelings. Our soul is rebuilt in the presence of Jesus alone.