One of the most impactful books I have read in recent years has been Rediscovering Israel, A fresh look at God’s story in its historical and cultural contexts, by Kristi McLelland. It is about learning and reading our Bibles through through their eyes, their culture, their idioms, their world. She guides us to see the difference between a Middle Eastern lens and a Western lens of reading Scripture. It has changed the way I read and interpret God’s Word. It has deepened my understanding of who God is and the impact of Jesus’s life and words in that time in history and what it means for us today. In the book, she talks about partnering with Jesus. The Jewish people refer to it as the tikkun olam, which means “the repair of the world.” She writes, “Jesus invites us to partner with Him in repairing the world He created.” That’s pretty amazing!

As Easter approaches and the resurrection of Jesus Christ will once again be remembered and celebrated, I am pondering anew what it looks like to partner with Jesus in the repair of the world. The river of love flowing from the Father, through Jesus to the world and through us by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We get to keep this love going!

Love that flows and never ends.

Love that flows offering grace and mercy.

Love that flows offering compassion and kindness.

Love that flows offering comfort and peace.

Love that flows offering hope.

Love that flows in the tikkun olam, “the repair of the world”

We love because he first loved us. ( 1 John 4:19) If we are in Christ, we have the ability to love and power of love in us. We have what it takes to partner with Him in the tikkin olam. As I am writing this, an old song my dad used to listen to came to mind – Let Your Love Flow by the Bellamy Brothers. Let these words, inspired by that song, encourage you today:

Let His love flow like a river

Let His love transform you from the inside out

Let His love carry you out into the world

Let His love send you places you never dreamed you would go

Let His love color all the places you go with beauty

Let His love shine through you and all around you

Let His love flow through you today