September 22

Beautiful Restoration
Bible in a Year:
Ecclesiastes 10–12
Galatians 1
The past troubles will be forgotten . . . . See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Isaiah 65:16–22
In his wonderful book Art + Faith: A Theology of Making, renowned artist Makoto Fujimura describes the ancient Japanese art form of Kintsugi. In it, the artist takes broken pottery (originally tea ware) and pieces the shards back together with lacquer, threading gold into the cracks. “Kintsugi,” Fujimura explains, “does not just ‘fix’ or repair a broken vessel; rather, the technique makes the broken pottery even more beautiful than the original.” Kintsugi, first implemented centuries ago when a warlord’s favorite cup was destroyed and then beautifully restored, became art that’s highly prized and desired.

Isaiah describes God artfully enacting this kind of restoration with the world. Though we’re broken by our rebellion and shattered by our selfishness, God promises to “create new heavens and a new earth” (65:17). He plans not merely to repair the old world but to make it entirely new, to take our ruin and fashion a world shimmering with fresh beauty. This new creation will be so stunning that “past troubles will be forgotten” and “former things will not be remembered” (vv. 16–17). With this new creation, God won’t scramble to cover our mistakes but rather will unleash His creative energy—energy where ugly things become beautiful and dead things breathe anew.

As we survey our shattered lives, there’s no need for despair. God is working on His beautiful restoration.

By: Winn Collier

Reflect & Pray
What needs beautiful restoration? How does this imagery of “new creation” stir hope in you?

Dear God, please restore me and make my world new. Amen.

Forget It and Move On!
SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13, NIV

Recommended Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
If you’re having trouble getting over an insult, hurt, or injustice, here are two verses that may help. In 1 Corinthians 13:5, we’re told that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (NIV). We have to take that list of grievances, give it to the Lord, then burn it in the fire and turn it to ash, putting it behind us.

Isaiah 43:18-19 contains this counsel: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV).

If someone has done you wrong, your anger might lead you to want to seek revenge. Refusing to forgive another for their transgression can keep you bound by this anger. Choose today to forgive in the power of the Lord who has forgiven you, and free yourself from this sort of anger addiction.

Burn the list of past grievances, and go into the future knowing God is doing a new thing in your life.

Divine love is kind even when misunderstood. Love knows how to take sorrow and heartache victoriously.
George Sweeting

Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will carry you! I have done it, and I will bear you; And I will carry you and I will save you. Isaiah 46:4 NASB

People Panic . . . God Provides

September 09, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 15:1–19
“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!”

“What did he tell you?” Saul asked.

And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?” (1 Samuel 15:15–19)
The tragic story of King Saul is that he never, ever fully repented of his sin. Saul's greatest concern was his image, and how he looked before the people. Even after Samuel gave him a break, Saul took advantage of it and continued in that same vein until the day he took his own life. How sad is that?

Samuel has reached the end of his rope. The people elected Saul as king, but he was no longer qualified. What are they to do? Israel is surrounded by enemies, and they need someone to carry the scepter. But who? Samuel didn't know and couldn't imagine. The people didn't know and had no suggestions. No one knew . . . except God.

What Samuel didn't realize—what we often don't realize—is that behind the scenes, before He ever flung the stars into space, God had today in mind. He had this very week in mind. In fact, He had you in mind. And He knew exactly what He was going to do. God is never at a loss to know what He's going to do in our situations. He knows perfectly well what is best for us. Our problem is, we don't know. And we say to Him, "Lord, if You just tell me, then I'll be in great shape. Just reveal it to me. Explain Your plan to me, and I'll count on You." But that's not faith. Faith is counting on Him when we do not know what tomorrow holds.

When a man or a woman of God fails, nothing of God fails. When a man or woman of God changes, nothing of God changes. When someone dies, nothing of God dies. When our lives are altered by the unexpected, nothing of God is altered or unexpected. It was the prophet Isaiah who wrote: "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).

"Before you even utter a word," God promises, "I'm involved in answering. In fact, while you're speaking, I'm involved in bringing to pass the very thing I have planned from the get-go."

God knows exactly what He's going to do, and nothing can restrain His bringing it to pass.

Neither High nor Low
SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 4:7, 11-16
The Bible suggests that pride led to Satan’s downfall and, subsequently, man’s as well (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:12-15), and he tempted man with the same desire (Genesis 3:4-5). Ever since, we are tempted to “think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think.”

Paul wrote that we each have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (Romans 12:6). His warning about thinking pridefully about our gifts has a flip side: Neither should we think more lowly than we ought to about our gifts from God. Instead of thinking about ourselves, we should think about God and the grace He has given. No member of the Body of Christ is more or less important than any other. We are to walk in the calling whereby we have been gifted and called (Ephesians 4:1).

Thank God today for who He has created and called you to be. Let your focus be on Him and His glory.

Pride of gifts robs us of God’s blessing in the use of them.
William Gurnall