10/22/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
This week’s Psalm speaks of restoration. It’s a powerful reflection. Joy doesn’t begin to express our emotions when the Lord brings restoration. The people who were in bondage have been set free. It’s like a dream.
My work gives me many opportunities to speak with people who are only partially through the journey. These have fallen into hardship, discouragement, even despair. They know the brokenness of our world. Families disintegrate, dream careers become nightmares, parents and children turn against one another, wherever we look our world is enduring hardship. Some will talk to me about how they once had a hope in God but they no longer trust him. Their lives are hard. The ideal they were given didn’t hold. Maybe it was just a dream, to be overcome by reality.
What hope does God’s Word bring to the table? When God does restore His people, He brings them into a life which they can’t fully comprehend. Picture it for a moment. Forgiveness that places us in the position of heirs of the King of all. Access to all we may ever need in this life and for eternity. Complete healing and restoration.
Well, you say, that didn’t happen. Instead, I find I am going to church with a bunch of people who are more or less a wreck, like I am. Life is still rough. My boss is still unfair, I’m still underpaid, my kids are still angry with me, and the broken relationships in my past are still broken.
How, then, does God restore the fortunes of His people? He does it through His words of promise. He promises forgiveness, life, and salvation. This is a fortune that, at present, we can only dream of. It is too good to believe. Here’s the real question. Are we going to believe the promise, even when it looks too good to be true? Eventually the Lord will show that He keeps all His promises. We will reap with joy. The Lord’s promises are just what we need.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
This week’s Psalm speaks of restoration. It’s a powerful reflection. Joy doesn’t begin to express our emotions when the Lord brings restoration. The people who were in bondage have been set free. It’s like a dream.
My work gives me many opportunities to speak with people who are only partially through the journey. These have fallen into hardship, discouragement, even despair. They know the brokenness of our world. Families disintegrate, dream careers become nightmares, parents and children turn against one another, wherever we look our world is enduring hardship. Some will talk to me about how they once had a hope in God but they no longer trust him. Their lives are hard. The ideal they were given didn’t hold. Maybe it was just a dream, to be overcome by reality.
What hope does God’s Word bring to the table? When God does restore His people, He brings them into a life which they can’t fully comprehend. Picture it for a moment. Forgiveness that places us in the position of heirs of the King of all. Access to all we may ever need in this life and for eternity. Complete healing and restoration.
Well, you say, that didn’t happen. Instead, I find I am going to church with a bunch of people who are more or less a wreck, like I am. Life is still rough. My boss is still unfair, I’m still underpaid, my kids are still angry with me, and the broken relationships in my past are still broken.
How, then, does God restore the fortunes of His people? He does it through His words of promise. He promises forgiveness, life, and salvation. This is a fortune that, at present, we can only dream of. It is too good to believe. Here’s the real question. Are we going to believe the promise, even when it looks too good to be true? Eventually the Lord will show that He keeps all His promises. We will reap with joy. The Lord’s promises are just what we need.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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