I know it has been a long time since I have written on this blog. One of the reasons for that is that I just started working on my Masters in Counseling degree. This is a big change for me since I have not been in a program like this before. There is a lot of reading and writing and it keeps me busy. It has been busy and stressful lately. So, I was thinking during my quiet time about spiritual renewal.
One story that came to mind is in Matthew 12:8-14 where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. This is in a section where Jesus teachings are being compared to those of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus heals the man with the withered man and then tells the Pharisees that it is lawful to heal a man on the Sabbath and to do good.
You might wonder what that has to do with spiritual renewal. One thing that I think it has to do with it is that we are to learn a lesson from the mistakes of the Pharisees. They had a rigid list of rules and standards. Jesus didn't meet those standards. Their faith boiled down to a list of right and wrong, do and don't. They forgot love and grace and forgiveness. The interesting thing about it is that when Jesus healed the man they actually wanted to "destroy" (verse 14) Jesus for healing the man.
I think one of the ways that we pursue spiritual renewal is remembering the importance of loving other people and caring. Caring can be an exhausting thing sometimes. People can disappoint us. Sometimes people do stupid things and lie and fall short. But, you know what, all of us do that at times. It's our job, our privilege, to show each other grace during those times. And to treat others the way we would want to be treated.
Spiritual renewal is not found in a vacuum where we simply focus on ourselves and ignore the needs of other people. Jesus told us that if you want to gain your life you have to lose it. If you want to follow Him then you have to pick up your cross and be willing to sacrifice, to surrender and in the middle of that you find renewal because you find the presence of God.
