“‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’”  

(Isaiah 61:1-3)

Art has played a central role in human history. It is a commentary on, and window into the culture; bringing beauty, inspiration, and light into our world. There are two basic types of art: prints, which are mass produced, identical, and of limited value; and masterpieces–one of a kind works that take months to complete and are often priceless.  Scripture tells us that God uniquely shaped each one of us. We are not cheap copies, but rather masterpieces–God’s best work (Ephesians 2:10); and we are of infinite value and worth! However, like all masterpieces, we can become damaged by exposure to the world and by life’s inevitable hurts–we can loose our lustre and vibrancy, becoming dull, washed out, and dirty.  As such, we are continually in need of restoration. Thankfully, our God is a God of restoration, and throughout the Bible, we see Him restoring those who cry out to Him in faith. The word ‘restore’ means “to bring back; refresh or repair;” and has the connotation of healing and wholeness.

In Luke 4, we read the story of Jesus preaching His first sermon in the synagogue in Nazareth. Quoting Isaiah 61:1-3, Jesus describes His mission as one of restoration. In the places where our lives are in ashes, Jesus comes to bring the healing oil of gladness. Where there is mourning, He comes to bring the garments of praise. Where there is despair and hopelessness, He comes to make us strong. God cares about our wounds, and desires to bring about our restoration to healing and wholeness–He desires to restore the masterpiece!

May this season of Lent provide an opportunity for us to draw closer to God through Scripture reading, fasting, worship, and prayer as His Holy Spirit cleanses, repairs, and restores us from the inside out. And may we proclaim Jesus’ resurrection this Easter with renewed boldness and power!     

For a list of our Lenten activities, please see our Lenten Brochure; “From Brokenness to Restoration: An Invitation to Lent 2018”   You can find it here: LentBrochure2018                                                               

You may also want to use the list of daily readings “Behold, My Servant Shall Prosper” to help you in your Lenten preparation.  You can find it here:  MyServantProsperReadings