Have You Been Restored?
For the last few months I have been helping a friend remodel his 1890's era farmhouse to get it ready for sale. It's been an exhausting and rewarding process restoring the house and updating things as we go to make it more attractive for potential home buyers. The process has reminded me of the work of discipleship in our lives. Christ uses this process to refine us, discipline us, and make us more attractive to the father. Sometimes old things have to be ripped out so the newer, better, updated versions can be installed. Hebrews 12:11 says "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 
What are some areas in your life that may need remodeling? Are there areas in our live's that can be surrendered to the master carpenter, Jesus? Although it's not a comfortable prayer, I encourage you to ask the Lord to reveal any areas in your life that may need some rough edges sanded off of and then allow Jesus to refine you so that you can produce that harvest of righteousness. I know that's been my prayer lately, Jesus refine me, restore me, renew my heart and allow me to serve you better than ever before. Our world is changing and we need to be as prepared as possible to meet it with the love of Christ!
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