88. A Walk With Jesus (Restoration)

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village." Mark 8:22-26

One thing I see here is what I consider to be an attribute of God's character once again beautifully personified in Jesus. Our Lord is in the business of Restoration. When a unrepairable marriage is restored, when divorced couples reunite, when broken hearts are mended... Jesus is near. When victims forgive the unforgivable, when an addict is rescued from his addiction, when a sinner repents and loves the Lord... Jesus is near.

Knowing this, that the grace of God extends to all mankind who are willing to accept His offer, i would like to draw some simply conclusions for the rest of us.

Do Not Hinder the Restoration of Others!
Father, when someone I know has been struggling with sin and is in the process of being restored, than let me be careful not to stand in the way of Your work. Time does nothing for the healing and restoration of ones soul. Time does not heal all wounds; You, Jesus heal all wounds, and You take time. Let me remember that my healing has been a journey and not a sprint, knowing that You have been so patient to restore and heal my soul; may i also bear such long suffering, supplemented by prayer, for the healing of the other's. Not beating them down, or criticizing them for their past mistakes, knowing that love keeps no record of wrongs and You remember my sins no more, help me than also to remember the sins of others no more.

Do Not Hinder Your Own Restoration!
Jesus, I am amazed at the length by which You have shown me mercy and continue to show me mercy still. Your love towards each of us is outrageously persistent to the degree that we rightfully praise You saying Your love is unfailing. All that is within me is nearly irritated by my desire to be like You and nothing like who i am. Yet when i chose to sin against You, and i chose to buy into the lies and deceit, then i feel that i am hindering Your process. Whenever I allow my pride to seep in through the walls that protect my heart and sin against you, I actively remove myself from Your will in my life and fulfill the desires of my flesh. Your will is my sanctification! As i read Your word and i find myself more and more dependent on Your strength to get me through this day, i pray that you would remind the spirit within me to yield to Your will and to humbly accet all that You have commanded me to do; than i pray for the strength to be obedient and to love You with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength.