Jan 25 — Renewal Through Community Restoration

Isaiah 58:10b-12 — Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Those from among you Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

Have you ever been encouraged by new believers?  The freshness of new life in them is infectious.  The joy they have in discovering new things about God and His Kingdom daily.  The passion they have for the freedom and healing they have found.  The many questions they ask that keep you on your toes, having to know what you believe and why.  This is a joy that God desires us to be continually experiencing.  Yesterday we considered the revival God wants to bring to the church.  Today we look at what God wants to do for the community.

How the community is affected is through us, the church.  Jesus said we are salt and light.  Here God promises that our light will rise and shine.  We will be so bright that the darkness around us will be overwhelmed by it.  Too often we are worried about the darkness creeping in when we simply need to be the light we are supposed to be.  We will not only be able to bring light for those in darkness but also water for those in drought, strength for those who are weak and food for those who are starving.  Through what God is doing in and through us, the community is changed.  It is restored.

Lord, as You renew and revive us, let us not be selfish.  Your heart is to reconcile everyone to Yourself.  You desire that none should perish.  We are lights that are not to be hidden.  We are like rivers and gardens to nourish those around us.  Lord, we desire to be who You say we are.  Lord, make us so.

[Also meditate on: Mt. 5:13-16; Jn. 1:1-13, 3:16-17, 12:42-50; Phil. 2:12-16]