Restoration over Rejection - Daily Devotional March 20th, 2010

Daily Bible Reading - Exodus 31, John 10, Proverbs 7, Galatians 6

Restoration over Rejection

Being restored after one has messed up is the first thing on the offenders mind yet it is often the very thing that never happens. Because restoration is seldom seen in the church world we create a place where people would rather hide their issues then expose them. Unfortunately, when this happens it hurts the person that needs the restoration even more.

The church should be the first place people turn to not the last, as it should be a place of restoration not rejection. However, I have witnessed just the opposite of this take place. We are often quick to point out the issue in someone's life but not in a way of hope and restoration but in a way of, "that is so wrong, you need to change". The end result of correction however should never leave someone feeling rejected but should always bring restoration in that person's life.

Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted". This tells us that at the Church we should be the first ones to help people get restored, not just point the finger of correction but give the hand of restoration so that they can get to the place where Jesus Christ longs for them to be. When I go to the doctor because I am not feeling well they do not just tell me what is wrong with me, they give me a plan of attack so that I can get better and healthy. I already know I am in pain I do not go to the doctor so that they can tell me what the name of my pain is, I go because I want to be restored to perfect health. According to Galatians 6:1 the same should be true of the church. People are not coming to us so we can tell them the name of their pain, "sin", but they are coming because they want to be completely restored and be able to get on with their life. We need to be more in to restoring people rather then just naming their issue and rejecting them.

1 John 1:9 shows us how much God loves us and how He himself is not into rejection but restoration. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". As the church we too need to be modeling this love and if we are truly spiritually minded then we are restoring people not rejecting people.

Let's be a church of restoration not rejection.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Exodus 32, Job 11, Proverbs 8, Ephesians 1

Dream Big
Ben