Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A God of Restoration

In my short 28 years of life, I have seen marriages broken, relationships devasted beyond belief, friendships falling apart, lives wrecked by sinful decisions. But in that short 28 years, I have also seen the amazing work of God in the broken, devastated, falling apart, and wrecked. Maybe not all of them, but many! I have seen God take things that could never be fixed and fix them. I have seen him take things that have been destroyed and restored them until they were better than before. I believe I serve a God of restoration. I believe He is able to do more than we could ever imagine in spite of our rebellion and disobedience in life.
I was reading in Jeremiah 33 tonight. Here is a portion of it that talks about God's restoration...
"But take another look. I'm going to give this city a thorough renevation, working a true healing inside and out. I'm going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings. I'll restore everything that was lost to Judah and Jerusalem. I'll build everything back as good as new. I'll scrub them clean from the dirt they've done against me. I'll forgive everything they've done wrong, forgive all their rebellions. And Jerusalem will be a center of joy and praise and glory for all the countries on the earth. They'll get reports of all the good I'm doing for her.They'll be in awe of the blessings I am pouring on her. Yes, God's Message: "you're going to look at this place, these empty and desolate towns of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, and say " A wasteland, unlivable. Not even a dog could live here." But the time is coming when you're going to hear laughter and celebration, marriage festivities, people exclaiming, "Thank God of the Angel-armies! He is so good! His love never quits!," as they bring thank offerings into God's Temple. I'll restore everything that was lost in this land. I'll make everything as good as new. I, God, say so."

I think that speaks for itself. I love the MESSAGE's version of this.
It's talking about God making an unlivable wasteland ( not even fit for a dog!) into something as good as new. Someplace that people all over the earth are talking about because it's so incredibly wonderful. A place of laughter and celebration. That is what my God is capable of.
There is nothing broken that God can't mend. There is nothing destroyed that God can't restore. He is truly a God of restoration. I've tasted and seen.

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