Restore is about restoration and relationship. In Galatians chapter 5:13-15 it talks about being called to freedom and the whole law is fulfilled in one word….love one another and what happens when you do the opposite. It reads….
13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Now I understand that it is not easy to love someone especially when they have done something that impacts us in a negative way. However it is not that we have to love what they’ve done but who they are in Him. None of us are perfect and we all fall short, but when we were at our lowest our Father in heaven loved us. He continued to love us even when we’re messed up, creating the mess or inserting ourselves into others trauma drama…like we didn’t have enough of our own. Lol.
If you are thinking that I can’t do that, then the question I would ask is, “do you love you?” Because the first time I read the scripture to love your neighbor as yourself, I thought…how that was not possible because I didn’t love me. If I could be real…I had the hardest time, because everyplace I went there I was and I was so terribly unhappy and I put my unhappiness on everyone else. It was a total revelation to me as to why I was so judgmental. The harder I was on me…the harsher I was on others. It’s that thing about if I could convince myself they are worse than me, it would make me feel better. Now how twisted and sick thinking was that…such lies if the enemy.
This world sure could use some called to freedom and learn to love each other. The verse 15 that states, but if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Have you seen this in your life or in other peoples lives that struggle with loving as Christ loved? I know I experienced first hand and it was so not pretty. At times it has come back and consumed me and almost broke me. I’ve seen it in the news every day where people think their opinions are the only one and will set out to destroy people reputations. Even listening to the news and hearing grown adults calling people names just makes me shake my head. I have been involved in conversations where the exact same thing has been done and I know at times I have been the one doing it myself.
But we must remember what the Scripture says that you are called to freedom and not to use that freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but to serve one another. There is freedom that comes from loving unconditionally, without judgment and to serve others when they’re at their lowest. There is a freedom that comes when you know how much your Father loves us…truly loves us and then it’s easy to share that same love to others.
Be Blessed, Speak Life and against all Hope, in Hope, Believe. I’m Believing that we are called to freedom and you have to answer it, because if you don’t…you miss it.
Today you are called…will you answer?