Restore my soul

Image by Richard Vignola via Flickr

"Restore my soul" By Diane Webb

Psalms 23: 3—"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

The way Jesus restores our soul is by leading us in the paths of righteousness. Only by following the paths of righteousness—where Jesus takes us—can our soul be restored. Follow Jesus. You read this phrase everywhere—pamphlets, bumper stickers, and T-shirts. It is only two words but it is THE way, the only way, to wholeness and restoration. Sometimes we look for complicated methods to achieve wholeness. We light candles, say prayers, use calculators to figure out our tithes, count up how many hours we've given back to God (to make sure it's ten percent), and pray for forgiveness if we miss one of the fourteen days of revival at our church. We still look around to make sure no one sees us take the trash can to the curb on a Sunday. Somehow, some way we still feel the need to follow the Law of Moses as if Jesus is not quite enough—just to be sure. Something as simple as "Follow Jesus" seems too good to be true. It's not. Simplicity is most often the more excellent solution. Have you ever over-colored a picture and then had to throw it away? Humans seem to complicate things just for the fun of it! "Just one more" we say. If it is simple, easy, and works why change it? The way to wholeness has worked for about two thousand years. The Psalmist knew about Jesus' way before Jesus was born. The prophets of the Old Testament pointed to the coming of Jesus. Who are we to come up with a new plan? Perhaps it's the interpretation of "righteousness" that causes people to complicate things. The list of what constitutes righteousness seems endless when looked at from a legalistic perspective. Jesus was not an attorney although he is the wonderful counselor (Isaiah 9: 6). He disputed the idea that salvation is achieved by following the law. Jesus says all we need to do is to follow him. Jesus says in John 14: 6, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me". Philippians 3: 9 says, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith". Stop trying to make it harder than it really is. Follow Jesus and he will show you the paths of righteousness (notice that paths is plural). Jesus may take you down many paths of righteousness. This is how he restores you—how he renews YOU. To be restored is to be made like new—or even better. Think of an old, historical home or building that has been neglected for many years. The roof is damaged, the paint is chipped off, shutters are hanging askew, and the windows are broken. Suddenly, one day, you see someone has purchased the home or building and is restoring it. Over the next several weeks trucks and workers surround the place. Then, one day, it's done. It looks so beautiful and new again. You can't imagine it ever looked ugly or neglected. You wonder if it looked this good when it was originally built. This is what Jesus does for us. We are like an abandoned house which, over time, will crumble and fall if left alone. The building cannot repair itself. It requires the loving hand of a carpenter. We require the loving hand of a carpenter. All we have to do, like trusting but ignorant sheep, is to follow our Shepherd. We don't have to think, to figure, to chart, to read, or to write to account for ourselves. All we have to do is trust Jesus to lead us where we need to go.

Heavenly Father, help me to trust you, to follow Jesus where he leads me. Help me not to try to second guess the way he takes me. Help me just follow and trust. I pray humbly in Jesus' name, Amen.