In God’s appointed time there will be restoration. Those who are His are never forgotten.
But what is the process for that restoration? What are the signs that God is working towards this season of restoration?
- It is to uncover the sin. God brought to the surface their wicked treatment of one another, 7 v 1-2)
- He breaks up the party, calling His people out from the world, to be different, 7v3.
- He exposes ambitious and competitive fire for what it is, v4-7.
- He brings self-awareness, v8-10.
If you have little knowledge of how you are perceived then there is little to have to control. If you cannot see the blind spots that others see so clearly then there is nothing to rein in, nothing to try to master and bring discipline into your own life. Ignorance isn’t bliss it often leads to unrestraint.
“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realise it. His hair is sprinkled with grey, but he does not notice. Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.” (Hosea 7 v 8-10)
A flat loaf not turned over is a loaf that is cooked only on one side and because it is not turned over becomes overcooked. Appetising?
God’s people always believed in Him but they turned to other nations for help. Their kings made alliances with Assyria and Egypt to strengthen their cause and bring security to their nation. Where was God? He was on the uncooked side of life. As a result this loaf was useless. The big problem was ‘he does not realise it’ and ‘he does not notice’. God was waking them up to their zero self-awareness.
A Pastor recently said to me, ‘Thank you, I have begun to change how I do things and I have put new practices into my life that were not there before.’ He thanked me because I simply opened with a sentence, ‘Are you aware of how people experience you?’
Hardened, weakened and not fit for purpose – but they do not realise it.
Aging and arrogant – but they do not notice.
I see Churches being restored because they wake up to the obvious that they had taken their attention off for years. For example, they have all grown old together and they haven’t invested in the youth and children. So they begin a Children’s holiday club or a Youth Alpha etc and self-awareness causes them to be on the path of restoration.
When we begin to solve problems that we just haven’t seen then we know we are on the road to restoration. This is the work of God.
Missions Paul 