When God said:
By Robyn Shipes
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Mark 1:32-34
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:1-5
When I think of the word mend, I have a visual picture of my mother sitting in her room, taking the ripped, torn, buttonless, items my siblings and I would constantly bring to her to mend for us. With nine children, there was always something to mend. She would literally sit for hours at a time and would carefully repair our clothing or stuffed animals. She would take what was “broken” and tenderly restore each item.
In a world where brokenness is prevalent, the longing for things to be mended and repaired has been and continues to be the longing of every heart. We long for broken relationships to be restored, we long for broken bodies to be healed, we long for broken lives to find hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus stands ready to bring healing into our broken world. In Mark 1, we find an entire city turning out to hear Jesus teach and to bring him people in need of physical healing. The sick and demon-possessed knew that their bodies and spirits needed mending – to be made whole and well. But Jesus also speaks to the necessity of their hearts’ need for mending – they needed to experience the forgiving and saving grace of Jesus. The people are leaning in to listen – their hearts craving to receive the mending that Jesus was offering.
In Mark 2, we find the passage gets more personal, it says there were two groups, those standing around listening, and a small band of faithful friends who acted. They believed Jesus could bring physical healing to their broken friend. They would stop at nothing to get their friend to Jesus. When they were unable to go through the crowd, they went through the roof! The passage concludes with “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” When Jesus saw “THEIR” faith he healed the paralytic. Let us be a people who believe that Jesus came to bring healing in such a way that he would be pleased to heal those in our community.
The mission of Seven Rivers Church is that we “exist to bring the healing love of Jesus to broken people and broken places.” So, what does this look like? How do we heed to the call to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us – to go and mend the world? I believe it looks like inviting the mom you meet at the park to come to MOPS, it’s taking a meal to a family who has been going through difficult times, it’s sitting with people in their pain, it’s what the Disaster Response team does every day – going out into the community and literally mending peoples’ homes. It’s what Common Ground Ministries in Montgomery, AL does – rehabbing homes in the blighted neighborhoods of Montgomery and investing in and caring for the families that will live in those homes. I believe it’s when missionaries in Mexico, obtain an old pig farm and build a school for deaf children who for the first time learn sign language and learn they have a name. I believe it’s seeing people, inviting people into our lives, and walking with them in the brokenness of their pain, shame, and self-righteousness. It’s what Jesus did – He saw people – their spiritual pain and their physical pain and He entered in – speaking words of healing and touching them with his power.
What a beautiful mission this is – a call to go and mend the world. So, let’s remember the healing that Jesus has done and continues to do in our own hearts and LET’S GO – with God’s wisdom, kindness, and power – Let’s Go Mend the World!
Adoration—Adore God for sending his Son to heal the brokenness in and around you.
Confession—Confess to God where you have tried to heal yourself. Confess to God any fears you have about reaching out to others who need his healing.
Thanksgiving—Thank God for the ways he has brought healing into your life and to those around you.
Supplication—Ask God to bring healing into any specific areas of brokenness in your life. Ask God how he wants you to bring it to others.
4221 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy
Lecanto, FL 34461
Phone: (352) 746-6200
Fax: (352) 746-6299
Email: info@sevenrivers.org
Office Hours:
M-F: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
