Weekend Words

From Amish Peace...

Photo credit: The Amish Cook - Elizabeth Coblentz

All Things New

"Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son." - Romans 5:10

"The Amish are keen menders, going to great lengths to fix what is broken, patch what is torn, and repair what is repairable," writes Lorilee Craker, author of Money Secrets of the Amish.  "I like the dictionary definition of mend: 'to restore something to satisfactory condition', or ' to improve something or make it more acceptable.'"

Mending is great for socks, fences, and farm equipment, but when it comes to our souls, there is no mending.  Our efforts cannot cut out sin or repair the damage it has caused.  Our good works do not stitch together the broken pieces.  Since we are born sinners, we can't ever do enough to repair our relationship with God.  Jesus didn't come to patch together our good parts with His great parts so we'd be sufficient.  No, He takes all sin so there is not a stitch left within us to bring condemnation.

I like how 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 puts it: "We look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.  The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!  Look at it!  All this comes from God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationship with each other.  God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins" (The Message).

How have you looked at your life: as something you need to fix, to mend, to make do with?  No matter how you try, you'll never, ever be able to restore yourself to a satisfactory condition.  Sinful human beings can never make themselves good enough for eternity.

How have you looked at Jesus: as Someone who helps you have a better life or as Someone who is your life?  If you are still battling that question, settle it now.  Hand over the frayed mess that you've been trying to put back together, and accept the fresh start, the new life, that only He can create in you.

Dear heavenly Father, I'm so grateful that instead of mending, You make new.  I offer the tattered mess I have made and rejoice at the new life You have to give!

Photo credit: The Gift of Friendship - Bill Coleman

From Faith's Checkbook - Charles H Spurgeon...

"Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray." - Isaiah 35:8

The way of holiness is so straight and plain that the simplest minds cannot go astray if they constantly follow it.  The worldly wise have many twists and turns; they make terrible blunders and generally miss their end.  When men choose worldly policy as their road, it leads them over dark mountains.  Gracious minds know no better than to do as the Lord bids them; this keeps them in the king's highway, and under royal protection.

Never attempt to help yourself out of a difficulty by a falsehood or by a questionable act; but keep in the middle of the high road of truth and integrity, and you will be following the best possible course.  Be just and fear not.  God's way must be the best way.  Follow it though men think you a fool, and you will be truly wise.

Photo credit: The Gift of Friendship - Bill Coleman