Last night we had dinner with friends in the campground. I was speaking with a gentleman that had lost his family home and all its belongings earlier this Spring in the fires that consumed a large portion of New Mexico.
Ranchers and farmers not only lost their homes but their livelihoods. He told me that there is an effort under way to help all those who suffered loss so they would be “made whole”.
Made whole. Those two words resonated within me. Made whole carries a meaning of lacking imperfection.
Made whole . It’s a phrase used time and again when Jesus healed people. Look at these few examples:
“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” Matthew 9:22 KJV
“And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” Matthew 14:36 KJV
“And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Mark 10:52 KJV
“The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.” John 5:15 KJV
Be made whole!
In most of these cases the Biblical account goes on to say that Jesus also told them their sins had been forgiven. They weren’t just made whole physically but also spiritually. The Father is concerned with our “complete” person, spirit, soul and body.
“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” I Thessalonians 5:23 MSG
When the Father touches our lives He doesn’t leave us broken – He makes us whole, He makes us new.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT
The life we once lived, operating under our own power and intellect has been removed and we have become a new person. Sins forgiven and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT
“ The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:14-16 MSG
One phrase in one conversation filled my heart and my mind. God the Father has made us whole. We have His nature and are created in His image!