Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

“Aim for restoration.” Now there’s a thought! In everything I do and say, I should be aiming for the restoration of relationships, the restoration of broken and wounded people, the restoration of my family and community that have been torn apart by sinful behavior.

“Rejoice,” he says. it’s a joyful task, even though it sometimes can get pretty messy. Like surgery; restoration can be messy and painful but the goal is healing.

How do I aim for restoration? Three steps are given right here:
comfort one another,
agree with one another,
live in peace.

That doesn’t sound like I’m actually doing much, does it? I’m not psychoanalyzing anybody or dispensing advice to bring about restoration.

The key is in the next words: “and the God of peace and love will be with you.” He’s the one who is doing the actual work; the three steps given here are actually getting me out of the way so that God can bring about the healing and restoration that’s needed. If we are comforting each other, agreeing with one another, and living in peace, we’re not hurting each other and God has room to work.

Oh, Lord, help me to get my “self” out of the way and quit making the hurts worse, so that You, the God of peace and love, can bring the healing and restoration that we need, today. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles