The Jump Leads.

Many years ago I got the opportunity to return to higher level education. I was an adult by this time and had figured that my days of academia were long gone, apart from the occasional training course related to work. But no. Lo and behold, there I was sitting in a classroom with other like minded adults all eager to start a course of higher level education which would lead to a meaningful, relevant and tangible qualification.

The academic year duly progressed along and I found myself at the end of the year ready to sit my exams. I passed them all except one. And this one was the most important one – Mathematics. I failed it. And miserably so. The tutor said that the only saving grace was that my grade was so low that he knew I definitely wasn’t cheating.

I wasn’t the only one who failed. Most of the people who failed were mature students who had returned to education after having been away from it for a while. And we were all given the chance to re-sit the exam again. But this time we were prepared and we all passed with better grades.

God gives us all second chances in life. Every single one of us is given the opportunity to be restored after any shortcoming or failure. And the lessons of this restoration process are abundant in scripture.

Jeremiah was told to go and visit the potter’s house. The potter made a vessel that he wasn’t happy with so he broke it up and remade the vessel again. (Jeremiah Ch18 v1-6).

Jeremiah, and also Hosea were told to break up their fallow ground and make it ready for replanting. (Jeremiah Ch4 v4, Hosea Ch 10 v12).

God is all about restoration, redemption and forgiveness. Consider the parables of The Lost Sheep, The Prodigal Son, The Widow’s Mite, etc.

Consider the account of Nicodemus in John ch3. He knew the law. He was well aquainted with the traditions of Israel. But he just needed some guidance on what the faith based life really is. When he asked Jesus about how a man can be born again of water and of spirit, Jesus referred him to the reference in Ezekiel about being cleansed again with spiritual water…

Ezekiel Ch36 v25  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. v26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. v27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

And there are a lot of people like us around who know the gospel, but are wearied by years of faith-life, and we just need need a little jump start to get our spirits lifted again.

The Samaritan woman at the well (John Ch4) had to acknowledge that despite her pretentions, she had no husband. But once Jesus put His finger on the problem her story of regeneration began.

But, how do we start with this process for ourselves? Well, by simply spending time thinking of God, talking to Him and singing some of our favourite christian songs is a very good place to begin.

Persuading others of the love of God is the greatest ministry that any child of God can be given. But sometimes we just need to come aside and remind ourselves, and each other, that we are all God’s children and the he loves each and every one of us individually.

Consider what God said to Jeremiah…

Jeremiah Ch31 v3 "….I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. v4  I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.

Israel was restored after the captivity of Egypt. This resulted in the founding of the city of God in what is now Jerusalem. Israel was restored for a second time after the captivity of Babylon. This resulted in the rebuilding of the destroyed Temple.

Peter was restored after his denial of Christ. Saul was restored after his experience on the road to Damascus. Thomas was restored after doubting that Christ had risen again after the crucifixion.

And Christ will restore and refresh us too. We just need to wait on God and allow Him to help us renew our strength. It just takes time.

Isaiah Ch40 v28  Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. v29  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. v30  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; v31  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
 
Email - TheseLivelyOracles@hotmail.com
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Location: H3W9+VX Belfast, UK

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