Broken-hearted? Wounded?

Having a broken heart, being wounded (physically or emotionally) is not uncommon. It's just part of life. But, what you do with your broken heart and your wounds is often what determines the direction of you life. 

You can have a broken heart from not getting what you want. That's sort of a harsh way of saying that things didn't go as you had hoped. If you trust someone and they break that trust, it can be painful, emotionally, And you know what? We are all human. We all fall short. 

But, what do you do with your broken, wounded heart? Looking to anger or looking to forgiveness are two very opposite pathways with two very different outcomes. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness are self-destructive. You have to go to the Lord and ask him to heal you. He will heal you, he will bind up your wounds...

“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.”

― Robert Browning Hamilton

Timing Is Everything

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

Colossians 2:13

Timing is everything. This is especially awesome when we consider our salvation, our adoption into the family of God, and our acceptance into the kingdom. 

God didn't make us alive with Christ after we repented and performed several acts of contrition. The Holy Spirit, the Hound of Heaven, didn't wait for us to confess our sins and faith in Christ before he started drawing us to Christ. Our Heavenly Father didn't see us come bow our heads at some revival, camp, our church service and decide to let us into the family. 

Timing is everything. God choose us first. When we were dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh he made us alive with Christ. God's grace, his love, his amazing love is shown to us in that we didn't deserve his love yet when we were least deserving he was most gracious and merciful. He forgave us all our sins. 

In the kingdom of God, God's timing is everything. When we were dead in our sins He forgave us all our sins. That's grace, that's God,

that's amazing!

Only God Can Fix It

When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!”

Numbers 14:39-40

This is a bit of a warning to start of the work week. I want to point out two things  about their reaction to God dealing with their unbelief, which is sin and then remind us that God is still Sovereign and gracious.

First, notice that the Israelites didn't deal with their sin as he commanded. Yes, they admitted that they sinned, but, they didn't go to the tabernacle and offer the proper sacrifice. That's what God had commanded them to do with regards to their sin.

Second, they did what we do, tried to fix it by themselves. They just decided that they would go ahead and take the land. Well, no. They needed to deal with their sin. And just like us, if we don't deal with it God's way, we will face defeat.

Now, it isn't that God didn't want to forgive them, because he did. God always wants to restore us, to bring us back to himself. But, it must be on his terms. When I read the Old Testament it's easy to say they didn't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them like we do, or to just write off their stubborn refusal to trust God and obey his commandments as and Old Testament issue. But, quite frankly, what's my excuse? I have the Holy Spirit, the New Testament, access to great teaching, the Bible in a myriad of translations including the original, and yet... I sometimes still struggle to believe God is able and seek to do things my own way. 

What I have, what we have, is access to the throne of grace where Christ, our Lord and Savior, sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. So, as we go into battle with the world around us and we fight the good fight within ourselves and around us, let us seek the Lord for his strength, grace, forgiveness and love. 

All Our Sins

You Intend, God Intends

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 

Genesis 50:20 NIV

I think most of us have quoted Romans 8:28 that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him", but few have been able to say it and with grace like Joseph after going through what he did. 

Nothing hurts more than family. People may hurt you, but when your brother or sister does something, that can leave a scar. Joseph's brothers tried to kill him, but, ended up selling him as a slave! Just put yourself in Joseph's place for a minute. Imagine looking up from that cistern and hearing them argue about what to do with you. They finally pull you out, only to find yourself sold as a slave. Then, your masters wife tries to seduce you and you get falsely accused of attempting to rape her because she's mad you rejected her. Next, you interpret a few dreams but the dreamers forget to tell anyone about you. But God had not forgotten Joseph. 

Joseph tells his brothers flat out that even though they meant harm, he knew God intended it for good. First, think about Potiphar's wife. If Potiphar, the captain of the guard, had believed Joseph tried to "make sport' of his wife he probably would of killed him. So, instead of being killed Joseph was just placed in prison. And you know the rest. He ends up second to Pharaoh, trusted by Pharaoh to run the nation.

Now the amazing thing is that when he sees his brothers, he sees them through the eyes of grace and forgiveness, knowing that God used all things to work salvation through even their betrayal. In verse 17 we are told that "Joseph wept" (sound familiar?). He wept because God's grace had worked in his heart to allow him to forgive and love his brothers. God always intends salvation. 

Where does God have you that even though others may have hurt you, God intends salvation? 

God Sees Your Misery

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.

Genesis 16:9-11 NIV

First off, I want to point out that Abram and Sarai learned their lesson after this because we don't see them doing it again. One Ishmael was more than enough. Which leads me to the truth I want us to learn and remember today.

Ishmael means God hears. In the middle of this foundational  and important (true) story about Abraham, the father of faith, we are given a nugget concerning God's Sovereignty and grace. So let's take a moment and look at Hagar, the third person in this little triangle. She was Sarai's slave. She didn't have any rights, any power, any say. The minute she thought she did, Sarai let her know she didn't. She ended up in the middle of the desert. She was told by God to go back and submit to Sarai and that she would have a son. He'd be a wild donkey of a man, against everyone and everyone against him. His name, Ishmael, would remind her that God hears and sees her plight. 

Hagar is an interesting demonstration of the Sovereignty of God and the grace of God. Ishmael was the result of Abram and Sarai's lack of faith, which is sin. Hagar, was kind of caught up in it all, not by choice really. Have you ever felt like Hagar? You didn't choose for some things to happen and yet there you are in the middle of it all. God hears your cry and he sees your plight. He will provide for you. He is Sovereign and he is gracious. 

God Still Calls Out, "Where are you?"

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 

Genesis 3:21 NIV

This is the Father, God. He judges, yet foretells redemption. He disciplines, yet provides covering. The world can only conceive of a god who is either an unyielding judge or a benevolent father who acknowledges no evil. God does judge and he does deal with evil.

The absolute wonder though is that, in Christ, he provides for us while dealing with sin. In Genesis 3:21 the Lord God provided a covering for Adam and Eve who had tried to cover themselves because sin had taken their innocence. Earlier in the chapter God had dealt with sin and its' consequences. He didn't just chuck them out of the garden and leave them on their own. He didn't just tell them about salvation for the future. He clothed them. Imagine that. They new they just sinned and they felt shame and guilt and confusion. God, knowing their needs, clothed them. 

We all sin. Sometimes our sin affects us in a more noticeable and immediately destructive way. One of the wonders of the grace of God is that even in the midst of sin and its' awful consequences God provides for us. God loves us. Even when he disciplines us he does not reject us. Even though Adam and Eve sinned and ate the from the tree God commanded them not to eat from, God still called out, "Where are you?" Have you sinned? Are you hiding? God is calling out to you, "Where are you?" 

Simplify Your Worship

Revelation 19:9-10

When you think about it, the Sabbath is not a complicated day. We are told to keep it holy and not work (Exodus 20:8-11). Like John in Revelation 19 I think we can get a bit off sometimes and focus our worship on something other than Christ. 

We hold the testimony of Jesus. We worship Jesus because he is God. We don't worship to be heard. We don't worship because we've been good or bad. We worship because Jesus, lived for us, died for us, rose for us and ever lives to intercede for us. 

Can I get an Amen?

Control Is Yours

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

1 Peter 1:13 NIV

Have ever heard someone say, "Just go with your heart." (Maybe you said it?) You can find the scripture for that in I Fleshalonians. Well, actually, the Bible tells us that the heart is deceitfully and beyond cure (Jeremiah 17:9). 

I may not be able to control my emotions but, I can choose my actions and reactions. One of the great lies of the devil is that we are subject to our emotions. Acting against what we feel is, according to the world, dishonest. No, acting according to my emotions can prove to be not only foolish, but, very costly. 

The Bible, here in I Peter tells us to "prepare your minds for action". We do need to think ahead. How do we prepare our minds for action? We can choose ahead of time to try to act in humility (I am a sinner too), mercy (Christ was and is merciful to me) and grace (God does not treat us as our sins deserve, otherwise we'd all be wiped out). Remember, we are here to demonstrate the love of Christ to the world, not inform everyone else where they fall short of the glory of God. Control is ours, but we must choose it.

Two Sides of The Life of Faith

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 

Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV

Being holy and not allowing roots of bitterness are two sides of the life of faith.  Being holy is about what I do, while not allowing bitterness is about what you do to me. 

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God" is like a bridge between the two. The grace of God applies to both you and me. You need grace and I need grace.  I am going to try to be holy but, I will fail sometimes (that's not an excuse, that's just reality) I will fall short of holiness. Now, the author of Hebrews doesn't say, "See to it that no one falls short of holiness" he says, "the grace of God".  Our faith is in his grace, not our holiness. 

Bitterness comes when I have unreal expectations of myself and/or others. I forget that I sin and that others will sin, too. I forget that Jesus is interceding for me, because I sin. I need grace. Just as God in Christ forgives me, I need to be forgiving others. Grace allows us both to rest in Christ's holiness. 

Got Guilt?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 

Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV

Here is the bottom line. My sins and your sins were dealt with on the cross by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The enemy tries to condemn us (guilt plus condemnation) and Christ ever lives to intercede for us. Hold on to the truth. In Christ we are holy. He is our righteousness, holiness and redemption (see I Corinthians 1:30). Think of it this way: The enemy uses guilt to remind us that we sinned and that we don't deserve to call on God. Christ takes that guilt, shows us his wounds, asks us to just believe those were for us, and reminds us to just keep trying to love others with that same grace. 

Completely and Always

but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV

The fact that Jesus' priesthood is permanent leads to two wonderful truths. First, that he is able to save us completely and secondly, that he ever lives to intercede for us. 

The completeness of his saving work assures us that whatever the depths of sin his death on the cross covers us. The completeness of his salvation also deals with time because he lives forever as our High Priest. The past, the present, and the future are all cover by his grace. 

The comfort of knowing that he is always interceding on our behalf encourages us to press on and never give up. You see, there is no time where he steps away and comes back and is surprised to find us is the mess we are in.  Right now he is interceding for you. 

Be Strong in Grace

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2 Timothy 2:1 NIV

I think I can be strong in a lot of things but, not have grace. I can be strong in my opinions. I can be strong in my convictions. I can be strong in my stand against injustice. But, I can be lacking in grace. 

Isn't that what the Pharisee's were like. They were confident in what they thought the Scriptures taught. They were willing to defend what they thought was right. And they pursued people who didn't obey the law with brutal consistency.  But, they didn't have a clue about grace. 

As Christ was on the cross, placed there by the people he came to save, between two criminals while Roman soldiers were casting lots for his clothes, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing?" (Luke 23:34). I can't imagine a greater example of grace, strength in grace, than that. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for being so gracious to me, even now. Give me strength in your grace to give to others. 

I Am The Worst

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV

Being a guy I, of course, enjoyed watching The Three Stooges growing up. There is a bit they did where they each offer to let the other ones go through the door first then they all go at the same time and bump into each other. 

In a way, our humility should be a bit like that, each of us almost bumping into each other realizing that we are the worst of sinners. God doesn't save us to show how good we were, he saves us to show how merciful he is. I feel that if God uses me in any way it is not because I am such an awesome disciple, he uses me to show that he can use anyone, even someone like me. 

His Grace is Always Enough

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV

They used to say that if you called Rolls Royce and asked them the horsepower of their engines they would simply say, "Sufficient." No matter who you were, the answer was always same, "Sufficient." No matter what you were going to do with the car, it power and horsepower was sufficient. 

For Paul, it was not just that God would forgive him but that God would empower him to fight the good fight and withstand the constant thorn in the flesh that he battled. In a way, we don't fully see God's power until we understand our weakness and insufficiency. 

Like Paul, we can boast that in our weaknesses Christ's power rests on us. We may wonder if we can make it, if we can stand strong in him. The Lord's answer is always the same, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Quick, Mercy Save Me!

 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;

   may your mercy come quickly to meet us,

   for we are in desperate need.

Psalms 79:8 NIV

Sometimes there is no time for pleasantries. All we can do is cry out for mercy. "Lord, have mercy on me, because I am in desperate need."

Let Grace Have Its Effect

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

What is the effect of God's grace on you? Paul was who he was, zealous, obvious type A personality before he was saved and after he was saved. But, the direction of his life was completed changed. He went from persecuting the church to building it up. From denying Christ to defending him. 

You are who you are, by the grace of God. But, now you are redeemed. If you are a driven person, be driven for Christ. If you are a quite but thoughtful person, be quite but thoughtful for Christ. Be who you are, by the grace of God, but let God's grace effect you as you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.  

Grace: We Serve, He Blesses

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

1 Corinthians 12:5-7 NIV

As far as our egos go, God doesn't need us to build his church. He always has his seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18). But, his grace gives us a place and a purpose in the body of Christ. The divine beauty of it all is that we serve and up getting blessed. God created us to enjoy a measure of fulfillment from serving others. 

The bottom line is: just serve God, he will take care of you.

Word of the Day: Redeemed, Christ redeemed you.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 77:15 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

As you head into Friday remember that you are redeemed. Christ bought you, paid off your debts of sin (past, present and future). He redeemed you. He is your righteousness. He is your holiness. 

Christ did not come to give us a second chance at being righteous. We weren't saved to seek holiness by our own efforts. No, he redeemed us to live by faith in his righteousness, holiness. 

You Were

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11  NIV

Do you know what the first rule of Italian driving is? The answer: What's behind you doesn't matter. (If you know the movie that's one trivia point for you.) 

In one way, Christianity is like that; what happened in your past does not determine who you are in Christ. We were all enemies of God some way. But, in Christ, we were washed, sanctified and justified by the Spirit of our God. 

When I was in High School there was this one guy who everybody knew was the guy who pretty much did more drugs and partied more than anyone else. He became a Christian and at one of youth groups he gave his testimony. Everyone thought he was going to talk about his past. He simply said, "I was lost, but now I'm found. I was living in the dark, but now I'm in the light..." It was one of the shortest, most profound and moving testimonies I ever heard. We all knew what he was, and the beauty was that he just wanted to talk about and enjoy how God had made him a new person in Christ. 

Remember, it's not about who we were, it's about who we are in Christ.