Formed, broken, healed, restored
 

Nigel Coles introduces a new booklet from Hope Together, which communicates Jesus’ good news in a way which appeals to both heart and mind - and touches everyone’s everyday reality 

We’ve all been in one of those conversations, about life, meaning and Jesus. You recognise it’s touched depths, which have the potential to transform your friends’ life. However, if you’re anything like me, you’re left wondering how on earth you can possibly help them to take the next step, as well as feeling somewhat helpless, because it’s a step only they can take.

How do I follow this one up? Sometimes I’m left wondering whether I’ll ever see the person again, sometimes they’re close, but I feel awkward about bringing the subject back up. Although I’ve noticed on this occasion, the words we’ve exchanged have gone deeper, I don’t understand how, I don’t feel I have  more, or a clever enough argument to unlock my friend’s heart, and anyway they need time and space to adequately absorb what’s going on inside their own heart too.

Not for one moment am I suggesting what follows is the answer every time any of us find ourselves in this in-between place. However, I’m confident everyone who is part of Seventy-two will love this and want to take advantage of it and the help it provides.

What follows is an unashamed plea for us all to ensure we have a few of the new Healed/Restored booklets ready at hand for such moments. Seventy-two is unable to produce such a helpful resource, but as a catalyst for missional movement, this is exactly what we need and Hope Together has provided it.

Inspired by Isaiah 64:8: You Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Hope Together have come up with a booklet, which helps us in a variety of ways:

• We need help with translating the never-changing nature of salvation into language, which touches everyone’s everyday reality.
• We need help in communicating Jesus’ good news in a way which appeals to both heart and
• We need help in communicating the gift of personal salvation and not putting off people by the wrapping.

The Healed/Restored booklet is written with appealing and accessible language, appeals to both heart and mind, as well as being beautifully presented. Not only does it helps us with each of the ways outlined above, but it’s only 30p!


Formed. Made by the Creator.

Our universe is a masterpiece of art and design, from the awe-inspiring outer reaches of the universe seen through the Hubble telescope to the microscopic workings of every cell. Each element reflects its Creator, who was there, in the beginning, to speak our world into existence.

There’s a reason people marvel at the world. It’s because the very same Creator has made you, and to see the world is to see a vision of your maker.

There’s a poem in the Bible that says: “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” You were created by God who made the whole universe; he loves and cares for you deeply.


Broken. Living in a shattered world.

When God formed the universe, he reviewed his work, and it was good. Looking at our world today, we see the things that are good. But we also see the bad things. God’s good world has been broken by the mistakes and wrongs of people who stopped following God’s plan for their own.

The things we do wrong have broken the relationship we were meant to have with the good, perfect God. As a result, we might feel fear, guilt, shame, and addiction; we might feel a sense of brokenness in ourselves. But God is a creator and a healer; God planned for restoration.


Healed. In the hands of the Healer.

God is a healer. Nothing pains God more than the absence of a healthy relationship with those he made. So, God sent his Son, Jesus, into his creation to heal the rift between himself and the people he created. By taking the consequence for our wrongdoings upon Himself on the cross, Jesus has brought us forgiveness and restored our relationship with our Creator.

If we ask God to forgive the wrongs we do which break the world, we can begin anew with God the Healer, with all the love, goodness and life that brings. He remakes us beautifully, restoring all that was broken.


Restored. Living with purpose.

Jesus rose from the dead and started a new creation, with a promise to bring all things back into the right relationship with God. Having found healing through Jesus, we are invited to live out our intended purpose: God working through us to reveal his love, healing, and beauty to the world.

Living with Jesus, we find ourselves filled with the joyful freedom and glory of his presence, longing for eternity with him. Jesus promises us this life after death, a promise that this world is not the end, a hope in an eternal future more extraordinary and fulfilling than we can imagine. Our relationship with God will be restored and we will dwell forever in our eternal home with God. That hope makes all the difference. What is broken now will become beautiful and good once more.

And for those who are already getting twitchy because there’s only one direct Bible reference, I believe if we can get a copy of the life of Jesus into everyone’s hands, we shall see the outcome in transformed lives. Click the QR code below to ‘explore further’, it takes anyone straight to Mark’s gospel. 


 

Healed/Restored is a new, pocket-sized booklet from Hope Together. Inspired by the prayer from Isaiah 64:8, it reminds us that we are the clay and God is the potter, healing and restoring us with His loving hands. It is available here

Nigel Coles is regional minister team leader of Webnet.

This blog first appeared on the website of Seventy-two, a catalyst for missional movement across England and Wales through Baptist networks, and is republished with permission

Image | Riho Kitagawa | Unsplash