Some “R”s to Focus On

Moving into this new year, there may be a longing for routines, reflections, returns, and redemption to help restore our hearts and minds.  For those of you who lost a loved one last year, I am truly sorry for your loss. You may be reflecting on how life was with your love one. Replaying events and moments with the loved person and realizing the significance of the loss. Remembering and grieving for them is treasuring their importance in our lives. 
 
For some, you may want to rewind and return to a previous stage or time, maybe when the scale was a little kinder to you or there was more money in the bank account.  I know I would like to rewind to pre-Covid life and whatever I thought was rough then pales in comparison to life now. 
 
I hope for all of us, our routines can be revitalized to have more meaning, refreshing and rewarding.  Those things that are necessary to get through the day, replenishing our body, soul, and spirit in an effort to face another day of responsibilities. In our own strength we lack significant resources required to meet our needs.  Fortunately, we can look to our redeemer, Jesus Christ, to refresh, replenish, and repair what is damaged in our hearts, minds, and homes. 
 
In Luke 15: 11-24; we read a parable of a family, a father and 2 sons. The younger son demanded of his father to give him his share of the estate.  The father granted the request and the younger son raced toward his desires and “squandered his part of the estate with loose living” (vs13).  Between spending all of his money and a famine in the country where he went, the young son had to retain a job feeding swine, longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating because no one was giving him food. (vs16).   
 
Verse 17 states, “ But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger”.  The younger son realized his current condition was dismal in comparison to his father’s hired men. Luke 15:18-19 shows the son’s recognition, “ I will get up and go to my Father and will say to him, “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight”. “I am no longer worthy to be called your son, make me as one of your hired men.” The desire of the son to return, repent, and restore a relationship with his father drove him home. The son had resolved to repair the wrong he had committed toward his father. 
 
This brings us to my favorite part of the story, verse 20, “And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a way off his father saw him and felt compassion for him and ranand embraced him and kissed him.” The father wanted to restore, redeem, reunite with his son.   The young son repented, the father puts his best robe on the son, a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  A fattened calf was killed and they ate and were merry. (vs23). 
 
The father in verse 24 says, “for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”  The father rejoiced in the return of his son. The father accepted the repentance of the son, redeemed, and restored the son to his family position. 
 
Have you asked yourself, “How did I get here?” “I don’t like where I am at in life right now?”  “I want to get back to a deeper relationship with God and renew my faith in Jesus Christ.”  It is so possible!  Our Father God is waiting and looking to have a deep relationship with His children.  If you haven’t ever had a moment in time of accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, today, this moment, it can happen. 
 
To accept Jesus Christ as your Savior just follow the ABCs. 
* Admit that you are a sinner.  Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
* Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that He is the Son of God.  Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. These elements in belief are critical:                                             Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Born of the virgin Mary, Was crucified, died and buried On the 3day, by the power of God the Father,  Jesus arose from the dead, Jesus ascended back to God where is He is ever making intercession for all. 
* Confess your faith. Romans 10:9-10 – “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation”. 
 
Remember God loves you and wants you to be reconciled to Him.  Confess your wanderings that led you down a path separated from His righteousness.  Accept the truth of scripture. Choose to believe and meditate on the truth. 
 
A starting place with scriptures can be:  1 John 4:8, Ephesians 2:13, Romans 8:38-39, Romans 5: 8, 10. 
 
I strongly encourage you to find a local body of believers to get connected for biblical instruction and fellowship.  If you received Jesus Christ as Savior today, seek baptism as an outward testimony of the decision you have made. 
 
Drop me a note on how I can pray for you in your spiritual journey. 
 
Blessings, 
Karen