Restoration

Written by cycleguy on October 30th, 2014

I am not one who believes in luck or coincidence. So…what do you make of my last post and the subject of this week’s sermon? In all honesty, it did not cross my mind until I sat down to write this post.

RESTORATION

Hmmmm now is it coincidence? I seriously doubt it. I see it as more of a divine incident. 🙂

Far too many followers of Christ have no clue about Grace and the liberty it offers in the “daily living out” of their faith. Therefore, those who “rag” on the church and followers of Jesus have a legitimate gripe. Sometimes. There are sincere followers trying to flesh out their faith, to make it real to the world in which they live.

On November 5.1864 Charles Sumner summed up the issue of slavery with these words:

Where Slavery is, there Liberty cannot be; and where Liberty is, there Slavery cannot be.

Many people are still bound to the old way of doing things and believing. It is particularly seen in relation to sin and restoration. God is in the reclamation and restoration business. It is no more evident than in Jesus’ closest allies- Peter to be more exact. If anyone messed up it was Peter. Not once. Not twice. Not even three times, although his most famous involved three denials. No…his whole time with Jesus seemed to be one mess after another.

Pretty much most of you know the story of Peter’s denial in Luke 22. We are also pretty familiar with his restoration on the sea shore in John 21. What a great example of extended grace!!

I’m excited to be preaching this Sunday on my favorite subject. I would certainly appreciate your prayers for this weekend.

Simple question: are you extending grace these days to someone? Do you need to? Do you know someone whom you would like to see restored to fellowship with Jesus? 

 

15 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jeff says:

    Interesting. While Charles Sumner was an anti-slavery advocate Jesus was buying into the attitude of the times… that being the Greek philosopher Aristotle’s teaching that slavery was OK because some were just born to be slaves. Jesus and Aristotle were both wrong and thankfully time has proven them wrong.
    I don’t see any point in “ragging” on people that find comfort in the Jesus story no matter how little they really know about it. I don’t understand why people would do that.
    If someone thinks they can be vicariously taken off the hook by a third party, and it makes them feel better about themselves, it’s ok with me.

  2. Daniel says:

    I don’t think the Bible itself captures the second “career” of Peter in any sufficient regard. It would be amazing to ready a complete and accurate biography of his life after his restoration by Jesus.

    • Daniel says:

      Oh, and I will be praying for you tomorrow morning during my devotionals.

      • cycleguy says:

        I think Acts 1-10 gives us a pretty good picture of Peter’s post seashore episode with Jesus. Other little gambits here and there also help. But it would interesting to see a more complete biography. Thanks for your prayers.

  3. the Old Adam says:

    My extension of grace (to others) is nice, when it happens.

    But what is far greater is when I share the gospel and the grace of Jesus for the ungodly.

    That’s where it ALL happens.

  4. I think we all want to receive. grace but too few of us want to extend it.

    • Meekly Seeking says:

      Yeah, Larry, that whole thing of wanting grace when we offend, but justice when we are offended.

      But, I must say that with age, and now that I’m “oh, so much more mature,” justice isn’t so important to me as just allowing God to decide what is best. I’m more able to allow God to work through situations and less apt to try to make things go “my way.”

  5. For sure, we’re all in need of some kind of restoration … Praise God He’s not done with us yet!

    Blessings as you share the Words of life.

  6. Betty Draper says:

    “flesh out their faith”, I love these words for they convey exactly what a walk of faith is.
    Love to receive grace, harder to give out then to receive. Yes, there is someone right now I am praying for to be restored.

    One thing I know, until Jesus takes me home the battle for living gracious will be there. The misunderstanding from others, lost and saved will be there. I must at all cost keep my circle small, me and Jesus, for He is the finisher of my faith, not any other. It must be Him I seek to please knowing His grace toward me never runs out. Good post Bill.

  7. Ceil says:

    Hi Bill! I sure hope your sermon went well, it sure sparked my creative juices! I”m thinking of writing a post on restoration too.

    It’s sad that so many see God as an absolutist, with no room for mercy. But that is not our Father. His love and forgiveness knows no bounds. Thats the Lord I love!
    Blessings,
    Ceil