The Coming Restoration

Peter and John gave the message of Christ to a lame man by the Temple Gates.  When he believed, he… “leaped up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:7). His outward healing was a sign of the new life that had taken place within him.

When people came running to see the miracle, Peter said, “Why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so intently upon us, as though by our own power or holiness we made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has glorified His Son Jesus, whom you delivered up to death… whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong.”

Having given all the glory and power to Christ, Peter encouraged the crowd to trust Christ for themselves… “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, in order that times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”  

Then Peter added the blessed hope of Christ’s return… “And He shall send Jesus Christ, who was preached beforehand to you; whom Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

This word “restitution” is used to describe the “repair” of public roads, “restoration” of land to rightful owners, “balancing of accounts” to those under tyranny, and “restoration” of cyclical periods in nature.  It is rightly stated: “Normal isn’t coming back. Jesus is.” Jesus is restoring lives now in preparation for that day of restitution of ALL THINGS.  Anticipate His return!

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)