18 February | Teens
«Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you.» Numbers 35:9-11
In the Bible, cities of refuge were special places established so that people who had made a mistake but did not intend to do harm could find safety and justice. It was God’s way of showing that even when we make mistakes, there is still hope and a place to start over. After all, God is a God of new beginnings!
Today, we can think of “cities of refuge” in a different way. I like to compare them to churches—the place where we receive spiritual as well as emotional refuge. Churches are spaces where we are welcomed, re-gardless of the mistakes we make. They offer us an environment of support and fellowship, where we can share our struggles and receive guidance and encouragement. In this sense, the church is a place where we find safety to heal our wounds, learn from our mistakes, and grow in our journey of faith.
Just as cities of refuge in the Old Testament served as a system of justice and mercy, our churches today play a similar role. As imperfect as the church may be, there are people there who are on the same path, and many have been through a lot of pain. Therefore, it is the perfect place for us to learn about the hope and renewal that Christ offers us.
Take Action
This week, invite a friend to visit your church. Show them how it can be a place of refuge, hope, and community.