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God's Light Restores You


"Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations.

You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

Isaiah 58:10-12

I fractured my wrist in the fourth grade in a soccer game. All I could think of was, "When will this wrist heal enough to play soccer again!" We all have scars. Some of them are physical, while others might be emotional, mental, or psychological.

There is something powerful about re-examining our scars from time to time. When we remember those bumps, breaks, or bruises, we put ourselves in a position to be restored from them and to help others who have experienced or will experience similar scars.

We've been told that the resurrection is all about getting to heaven. But, perhaps that's only part of its purpose, a very important part. But, maybe Jesus' resurrection has equal purpose in our restoration and repair today before we arrive at the pearly gates.

The interesting thing I notice in each gospel account is that the disciples got to see Jesus in his resurrected body. And when they saw him, he still had his scars from the cross. He still had the scars from when he was a little boy. Why? Why would they not be corrected or simply wiped away?

The restoration process of God's resurrection embraces the scars Jesus endured as valuable and memorable moments that demonstrated the sacrifices he made for us.

Just as Jesus has scars, you and I have scars. Those experiences are not simply memories for you. They have the power in Christ to do two things: 1) to connect with someone else who has a similar scar; and 2) to possibly aid in bringing them to a place of embracing God's restoration in their life as you have.

Resurrection in Jesus Christ is for today. It is to be shared by you with others. It's not just for a future, heavenly experience. The real power of the resurrection is that you and I can experience His restoring again and again, and we can be used as His means of restoring others.

But that takes sacrifice, doesn't it? We sacrifice a bit of ourselves when we share those scars with someone else. Sharing some scars takes a lot of sacrifice.

True sacrifice is when God uses us to help someone else break free from the chains that bind them. As you remember your scars and your hope in the resurrection, imagine that as you share those stories you are doing God's work of repairer and restorer in someone else's life:

"Is not this the kind of sacrifice I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?...

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear...

Then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame...

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

(Isaiah 58:6-12, emphasis mine)

Being restored and restoring others alongside you,

Todd

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