Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - RESTORATION

RESTORATION

When one watches the news or documentaries on world events, it’s not hard to see the devastation and destruction caused by both natural disasters and human activity. From floods and windstorms to invasions and war, the results are such that only years of repair and restoration will undo the damage caused by such episodes. Yet after each calamity, mankind starts the process of restoring things “back to normal” just so that, in many cases, the problems that caused the destruction in the first place can just recur again. 

This is the reality in many of our lives as we often have to make changes to rebuild what we have lost or destroyed; only to see that after the changes are made, the same destructive problems tend to reappear. And this often happens regardless of whether we change jobs, or change our vehicles, our houses, or even our spouse. The same end result is often the case.

Such was the problem with the woman that Jesus met at the well. She had apparently changed husbands a number of times without any real change in her situation.

for you have had five husbands, 

and the one whom you now have is not your husband… 

(John 4:18)

She evidently changed her spouse but apparently not what she put into the marriage. Or to use the well analogy, she kept changing the bucket but not the water that was put into it. That is why Jesus said to her:

…Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst… 

(John 4:13,14)

It’s evident that there is little use in making restoration unless there are also changes made in the situation that caused the problem in the first place. And this is probably why the Bible talks not only about salvation and sanctification but also about restoring the lives we live here on earth. 

The theme of restoration extends throughout the entire Bible. Some examples are:

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends… 

(Job 42:10)

So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… 

(Joel 2:25)

He restores my soul… 

(Psalm 23:3)

I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel… 

(Amos 9:14 ESV)

…if my people, who are called by my name 

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 

(2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age… 

(Ruth 4:15)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creation [restored]… 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

The whole idea is that putting the same lifestyle into a new vessel - job, house, spouse, whatever - does not really work. It is the changing of the lifestyle [the water] that makes the difference. Be sure to drink from the water that makes you never thirst again.

Just something to think about.

Pastor Matthew Trott March 15, 2026

 

Pastor Matthew Trott March 15, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQk1zcOT-Pw

 

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 34

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CHANGE

                                                           

                              CHANGE

Most people resist change. We seem to be comfortable for the most part on the way our lives have been, are, and in which they seem to be going. Even when we are dissatisfied with the way things are, it often seems too difficult to effect a change unless we get to the end of our rope. When things appear to be the bleakest is when change is most likely to occur.

This is in accordance with Newton’s first law of motion which states that:

an object at rest stays at rest, 

an object in motion stays in motion in a straight line and at constant speed 

unless acted upon by an external, unbalanced force.

This explains why change may be difficult to initiate, for the universe as a whole tends to resist the new action, energy, or initiative that change requires. And so, for almost everyone, change can be difficult. This is why the Bible implies that change is often better taken slowly, in baby steps, rather than all at once.

When God first contacted Moses about leading the Jewish people from Egypt, the first thing He mentioned was:

…Do not draw near this place. 

Take your sandals of your feet… 

(Exodus 3:5)

…a small simple step in first drawing near to God in a holy place, but one with far reaching consequences.

And then Jesus saw the paralytic who had been lowered down to him from the roof, He said simply:

 

…arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. 

(Mark 2:11)

A simple statement to which the paralytic had to respond by accepting the change offered him. 

When Jesus saw the brothers Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea, Jesus simply said:

“Follow me.”

(Matt 4:19)

And

They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

(Matt 4:22)

So, the first step they did was to just drop their nets, a small one but necessary if they were to make the change required of them.

There are other examples as well, but the idea is that any change must begin with the first small step; just as any journey requires that first step to break the inertia that we all have in feeling comfortable where we are. If one is in a rut or involved in an activity that they regret, then having the fortitude to take that first small step may be all that is required to eventually lead to the change one requires. And making the right change may just give you an eternity in which to be thankful that you did.

It can really be something to think about.

 

 

Pastor Jasmine Trott March 8, 2026

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcd1WoitM6M

Obituary of Sybil Higgins

 

So sad to announce the death of another good friend.

https://eaglesfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1755/Sybil-Higgins/obituary.html

 

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 33

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 33