Repaired & Restored

Today’s reading is Job 42.

There’s a centuries-old long-standing tradition in Japan called “Kintsukuroi”, or “golden repair”, that pertains to broken pottery. When a cup, bowl, vase, or other piece of pottery breaks into pieces, a craftsman will repair it by mending those pieces back together with a lacquer filled with golden powder. This results in a piece of pottery similar to the original, but covered in beautiful streaks of gold. This is done not only for practical repairs, but to highlight how something broken can retain its worth and usefulness, even taking on new beauty as its past flaws and damage are appreciated in a new light, and ultimately being more lovely than before.

Throughout the chapter of Job, we’ve seen one of God’s most faithful servants enduring overwhelming hardship and sorrow, fighting with anger at God and questioning his motives. We see his friends attempting to get Job to confess to whatever sins he committed to displease God and cast this fate upon himself. But after listening patiently for the Lord and learning to accept His will no matter what, Job finally realizes his need for repentance in this passage. He comes to God, admitting: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted”. Even after all the suffering he has endured, Job admits first and foremost that God is all-powerful and just, no matter what happens to him. And when he finally repents in this way, the Lord restores his lost fortunes to nearly double what he had lost.

Losing sight of God’s control tends to bring about a lot of questions. It’s easy to question how sovereign the Lord is or how good His plan is whenever difficulties present themselves: “Why would God let this happen to me?” “Is God punishing me for something I did?” “How am I responsible for this?” Even Job, about whom the Lord himself says “there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil,” had to endure great suffering at Satan’s hands. And even then, after facing similar questions yet ultimately holding fast to his faith, Job knows and proclaims that the Lord alone knows what is right.

When difficult times overtake our lives, it’s easy to feel attacked or abandoned by God. People often pray for complete avoidance of all trials and perfect, blameless lives, then feel let down when they experience harsh realities instead. But unfortunately, we live in a world enraptured by sin, where bad things happen to both bad and good people alike. We can think of ourselves as righteous believers whom God is punishing and become angry or confused with Him, but the truth is all of us live in a fallen world where all people must deal with the consequences of humanity’s sinful nature. Let’s face it, we’ll never know for sure why He allows these bad things to happen: some things are just too infinite and complex for us to comprehend.

But as Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We can rest assured that no matter what comes our way, God is working in our favor always. We know God uses our worst hardships and trials every day to create beautiful moments pointing towards His love and redemption. We become broken, imperfect, destroyed by sin, left tainted and worthless; mere pieces of God’s image of us. But in our struggles, when we proclaim that God is in control and He is righteous and just, He will take care of us and help us heal. Only in Him can our broken pieces, shattered and left imperfect by a sinful world, be mended into a beautiful reminder of how God will always make us whole. Job goes from a lowly sinner, ravaged by death and fire and illness, into a blessed and wealthy upright family leader. But his restoration to former wealth and beyond is not the focus; God could have rewarded Job with no earthly gifts and the ultimate reward of eternity with Him would be the same. And when we too surrender all control to God in our times of questioning and anger and sin, he repairs us and makes us whole, gifting us eternity by His side. We go from shattered remnants to beautiful vessels, yearning to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So when trouble comes your way, big or small, remember that God has a perfect plan that He is putting into action right now, where he will carry your through your toughest times and make you whole again in Him.

– Ross B.

Two promises

Today’s Reading Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah is one of the big prophets that is critical to the history and wisdom of God in the Old Testaments.  Jeremiah is the author of the Book of Jeremiah and Lamentations.  He has an eyewitness account the fall of Jerusalem and conquest of the Babylonians.  But in these verses in Chapter 31, he reveals two promises that have been addressed previously: God will bring his people to him AND God will dwell in them.

Jeremiah 31: 31-34

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

In this section, God reveals for a second time (first in Isaiah with the coming of Christ) that He will create a new covenant with Judah and Israel.  This is important because the children of Israel new something big is going to happen, but they are not sure when or how.  This is the covenant with Christ. This promise meant that some suffering and sacrifice would have to be made.  God reveals here that he understands the ultimate price is something that we, as humans, were unable to complete.  He has seen our inability to complete our promises and He being a merciful father will aid us in this promise.  After many times and attempts, God steps in and creates peace in the disorder that we have made.

The first promise is Salvation with Christ.  The second promise is the creation of the temple of God dwelling in each of us with the Holy Spirit.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I willbe their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

This is the combination of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working in tandem for His benefit for us. God is revealing the promise of not only will He save us from the hurt and destruction that we have subjected ourselves, but He will wipe away everything that is blocking our connection, then He will then reside within us.  He even states that there is no one that would be able to take credit for or against it because He will reveal Himself to everyone.  These are the promises that God has made.  Let us remember.  {Further reading Romans 8}

Everlasting Light

Today’s Reading Link: Exodus 33; John 12; Proverbs 9; Ephesians 2

Weekly one of the great opportunities I cherish is meditating and praying for some additional meaning about our daily scripture readings. One dedicated time comes while I wait in the car to enter church with our son naps in the back seat. Today I landed on John 12:36 where Jesus let’s us know we can be “children of light”.  Where I previously just underlined this verse. It has taken new meaning.

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light. John 12:36

I’m mesmerized by the physical light of the sun when I run in the morning and get to watch the sunrise. I praise God for this beauty and adore this majestic sight as a reminder of the importance of His spiritual light. I have previously shared the essential light of the Lord in our lives. Knowing who the light is and allowing him to take control of your life in order to spend eternal life with God is necessary. Jesus told us while we have this light available we need to believe. As our daylight hours get longer starting Spring our physical days are growing shorter. There are many who don’t believe who’s spiritual days grow shorter or can be non-existent based on those willing to share the “good news” or “light” of Jesus with them.  As Christians we are to be Christ’s light bearers, letting his light shine through us.  I have plenty of weak excuses as to the “almost” syndrome that can plague us. I almost said something to him. I almost turned around to give some money to that homeless person. I almost signed up for that mission trip.  I almost shared my love for our Lord, but I ran out of time.  It’s hard for selfish reasons in our daily lives to remember God’s  purpose for us when we don’t know when He is coming back or when God has determined our physical life to end. What if next week I’m not sitting here in the parking lot looking at Eastview? Did I truly believe the light? Am I a son of the Light? My prayer is yes, but I know its all by his will. God wants us to share his light to those whose days are growing darker. Am I sharing? Am I serving? Am I loving?

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

Mary is wiping Jesus’s feet with expensive ointment with her hair.  Serving and loving Jesus, preparing him for what is to come. Judas questions this act and mentions how much money they could get for the sale of this ointment.  Jesus reminds him in (v.8) that the poor we will always have, but we won’t have him. Our seconds turn to minutes, hours to days, how do we spend our time? I’m convicted on the use of my time and sharing God’s light with others.  Whatever I do is Jesus my focus? Through whatever our calling do we glorify Him? During our fleeting life Jesus shows us the ways to count our days. James 4:14-15 says Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (v. 46) That no matter the hour of day, year of age, or season of life Jesus says I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. My life was dark for many days with moments of light I couldn’t sustain.  Days I can never get back that were a negative influence myself and on others.  I was a stranger to the truth of God and his light.   I pray for the influential people who shared his word, placed biblical truths in my hands, and spiritual truths on my heart revealing the truth and pointing us to GOD.  Jesus will give you an everlasting light that will never go away. Now that we have seen this light its important for us to share this light with others so no one remains in darkness. So all can be saved from just wandering.  Seize the moment today, serve the Lord and glorify His name. You got this! Don’t worry about how or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you n that very hour what you ought to say (Luke 12:11-13)

In Ephesians Paul says we were all dead in trespasses and sin, but God being rich in mercy and the great love he has for us. has saved us. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

We don’t know the day or time the Lord has determined to return or take us to be with him. Are we sharing his love with others like it had been shared with you? This Word of Light that redeems us through his blood and forgives our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. This grace was given and proves to others the riches of Christ, bringing the light that shines form the inside out.But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all childrenof light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. How brightly is our light shining? 

Dear Lord,

We stumble in the darkness, you provide us with the light necessary to conquer the darkness.  Your spiritual light has allowed us to repent for our sins and shines a light on our daily paths.  God I pray this light continues to shine bright and I stay focused on your light.  Thank you God