John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
"12 Steps With Jesus" by Don Williams has been on my book shelf for a long time. I take it out at least once a month and go back over the portions that I have highlighted to refresh my understanding of what addiction is, and how it operates.
I'm sure that there are better books out there on the subject of addiction, but this one is written with a down to earth take on what addiction is and how it operates.
Don Williams, a former Vineyard Pastor now working with a ministry called Soul Survivor, points to Christ as the only real hope of not just recovery, but of life itself. He states that Jesus attracted the people who were marginalized in society. The broken, the pain filled people from every station, class and race. I like how Don describes these people and their interaction with Jesus. He says, "They came to Him, as we read the Gospels, to undress in front of Him. They came to show Him their wounds. Matthew 8:2-3, "Look Jesus! Look at my leprosy." Matthew 9:27-28- "Look Jesus, I am blind." Mark 2:3-5, "Jesus, help this paralyzed man!." Luke 13:10-12, "Jesus, here is a woman who has been bent over for 18 years." John 8:3-4, "Jesus, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. What about her?"
Through all the painful uncovering and undressing before Jesus, He loved them. He forgave them. He drove out their demons and healed them. He was, and continues to be, in the business of restoring their fallen humanity. He sets them free from their pasts. Did you catch that. He sets them free from their past. Why their past? Because that is where the accusations come from. The voices that fill our minds and darken our hearts. The voices that beat us down on a continual basis, chipping away at our self-worth until we have none left. The past where guilt and shame come from, Jesus spoke into our past and commanded us to "Be free!". Free to grow. Free to be changed. Free to have life, real life. Free to be free in Him, because He is life.
These people who came to Jesus to undress and reveal themselves to Him, walked away with a new dignity. A new purpose and destiny. For those folks, His Kingdom had come. That is why we do what we do on Saturday nights at Vineyard Recovery. We want to reveal the power and person of Christ as we invite His kingdom will to be done in the lives of those who are hurting. That those who are ministered to may go away truly knowing that Jesus eternally loves them. as Don Williams states, "That is that!".
I usually am not in the business of plugging books, or telling you, "Hey! This is the next great thing, hurry out and buy a copy." But I will tell you that I believe that 12 Steps With Jesus is worth the read.
Have a great day!
And if I don't see you before Thanksgiving.........
GO ahead and carve the turkey.
God on you.....
mb
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