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Wednesday Devos - Restored
Today we are going to spend some time thinking about ways in which we have been
restored, or seen someone restored or felt the power of God’s restoration in our life or
someone else’s.
I’m going to share a story about a friend of mine named Deonte. I met Deonte almost 4
years ago when he was just 9 years old. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years but this
past winter I was able to spend some time with him again. The first of these times was
waiting for four hours with his dad in a juvenile court for his hearing. When we were
finally ushered in and the charges were laid I think I felt what God feels when we stand
in the courtroom knowing we are guilty of all the charges of sin we have committed and
yet hoping there is some way out, some option that hasn’t yet been tried that can get us
away from this mess we’ve created – the hole we’ve dug that seems impossible to climb
out of. He longs to just give us a hug and take us away from there, forgetting and
forgiving everything we’ve been found guilty of in a gust of overwhelming,
unconditional love that sees potential, grace, innocence and vulnerability behind all the
layers of distrust, anger and false strength we cover ourselves with having experienced
too many times the consequences of being exposed. God longs to embrace us in the
same way my heart aches to embrace Deonte (dee ON tay). All our faults, mistakes and
barriers are but a pebble that easily and deliberately slips through the hand of One who
loves us and comprehends our worth as much more valuable than we often see
ourselves as having. I’m thankful that when I stand in the courtroom at the end of my
life the Judge I will face longs to pull me close and whisper His love and forgiveness
rather than throw the book at me and lock me up. We will not get what we deserve. We
will receive grace. We will be rehabilitated into His extravagant, crazy upside down
kingdom rather than receiving the punishment we deserve and really, how can you put
that into words?
As you spend some time with Jesus this morning let’s take time to reflect on the
moments in our lives where we have fully felt the depth of our brokenness and
wrongdoing and remembering the feelings of thankfulness when we think about the
lengths God goes to pursue us - he searches far and wide to bring the last lost sheep
back into the fold to begin the process of restoration and healing.
As you think about this I hope you will take a moment to write down the ways in which
you have or are being restored and write those on the box throughout the day as a
reminder of the ways God is working in your life and the lives of others.