Lent Devotional: RestoreSample

Restore: God is restoring the church

Very recently, I watched how my church pulled together when a member was in the hospital, providing prayer support, meals and love to the whole family.

A few years ago, I listened to the story of a lady in Ethiopia, who experienced the same kind of love from her self-help group. The group had bonded so well that they loved each other deeply despite all being very different. When the lady was in the hospital, the self-help group members looked after her children, brought her food and clean clothes, and even paid her hospital fees.

The lady said that she had never experienced such love and acceptance from a group of people. Praise God that he is restoring his church and bringing us closer to him through it. John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came to give us a full life. Give thanks today that the church, a group of ordinary people, can do the extraordinary through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord for the mix of people within my church. Thank you that though we are all different, we have the capacity to achieve much for you if we work together and love one another. As we walk together on the journey through the Easter story, may you open the eyes of our hearts so that we can really see you. Help us to really hear you, and guide us as your church to reach out, so that others may have life in all its fullness as you intended. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fiona Michael, Tearfund