[RE]FOCUS Day 3
Week 1: [RE]FOCUS
Day 3: Miracles that Restore
by Josh Britton
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
READ:
re-new: to resume (an activity) after an interruption.
Maybe it is just me, but as I focus in on the dictionary definition of the word “renew,” I find that it seems to hit home a little bit more than usual these days, especially against the backdrop of 2020. With a global pandemic, race and societal issues, job losses, death, and a list that seems to go on and on, this hasn’t really been a year devoid of interruptions, has it? What a perfect opportunity for God to remind us that this isn’t anything new to Him.
You see, God has been (re)newing or resuming His activities of restoring and reconciling all of creation, including us – the ones who messed it up, ever since the greatest interruption of all took place: sin. I love that God wasn’t phased by the interruption, but rather immediately displayed His amazing grace and mercy by already having a plan laid out and set forth into action the minute things went south. That is what John 3:16 is all about, Jesus being the plan to renew and make all things right in this world by coming and taking our place on the cross.
May we then, the renewed children of God, love this world like Jesus loves this world. May we love those around us as Jesus loves them. Let’s join in on the family business together of renewing and seeking to extend grace, forgiveness, and mercy to the world around us. No matter what the interruption is, there has never been a better moment than now to resume the activities of the family business.
PRAY:
Jesus, at just the right time, you came to renew all things, despite us being your enemies. Because of your renewing love, renew my heart to actively love those around me, the loveable and unloveable, the loved and unloved. Thank you for what you have done for me. Work through me to renew someone else today. Amen.
LIVE:
God loves the world even though many don’t love Him back. What does that teach you about the depth of God’s love? How does that impact your love for His world?