John 8:10-12 (NIV) 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No
one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus
declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." 12 When
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life."
What do the people whom Jesus
healed, delivered from demons, reached out to, made a part of His group of
disciples, forgave of sins, saved from death, comforted, and spent quality time
with… have in common? Perhaps it is that they were broken people. Broken people
have something in their bodies, minds, relationships, and/or souls that is messed
up. It’s not the way God designed it to be. Sometimes they know they are messed
up and broken. And in their pride or ignorance, sometimes they don’t. God (and His plan) is
the measure of our brokenness. And… God and His plan alone can heal our
brokenness and set us on a path of wholeness. This happens through the power of
Christ’s death and resurrection for us and through the power of the gift of His
Spirit to those who are objects of His love and grace. In God’s hands, what we
see as broken has potential for wonderful transformation into what is beautiful
and glorious in His sight.
Speaking about the power of Christ to redeem sinners
and build his church, Russell Moore wrote the following in an early October
blog: “The next Billy Graham might be
drunk right now. The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of
you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might currently
be a misogynistic, profanity-spewing hip-hop artist. The next Charles Spurgeon
might be managing an abortion clinic today. The next Mother Teresa might be a
heroin-addicted porn star this week. The next Augustine of Hippo might be a
sexually promiscuous cult member right now, just like, come to think of it, the
first Augustine of Hippo was. But the Spirit of God can turn all that around.
And seems to delight to do so. The new birth doesn't just transform lives,
creating repentance and faith; it also provides new leadership to the church,
and fulfills Jesus' promise to gift his church with everything needed for her
onward march through space and time.”
I don’t quote Moore in order to
narrowly focus on a few particular sins. I do so because his thoughts woke me
up when I read them. I need encouragement and hope regarding many people I
know. This is a reminder to me to have an optimism informed by the power and
love of God. It is easy for me to “write off” people as unchangeable or even
“not worth the effort” of sharing the Gospel. I need to hear and heed Jesus’
words again: “… with
God all things are possible.” (Matthew
19:26). The better I know the Lord… the closer I am to Him… the more my
life should be characterized by a “Word-informed” and “Spirit-informed”
optimism, especially when I think about broken people. My attitudes toward
others have a direct correlation to my faith – or lack of faith – in the Lord.
Jesus saw Paul (the named Saul) so differently than I would have. But He had a
plan for Paul and worked in his life to bring it to completion. So in the end,
my faith – my belief in what Jesus can, and will do – is tested by broken,
messed up people. Do I believe in a God who can… or not?
I pray we will have the joy of
observing God’s transforming power in the broken people in our own lives, and
may His glory shine brightly through them. AMEN.
2 Corinthians
5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come!
Ephesians 4:8-16 (NIV) 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended
on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What
does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower,
earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one
who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body
of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity
in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then
we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown
here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of
men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking
the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that
is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as
each part does its work.
PRAYER: Father, if you can do for others what you have
done for me, then wonderful things are in store for messed up people. Be
glorified in the great things your love and grace accomplish in the lives of
broken people. Build your church with people whom you are transforming. Increase
my faith when I look at others, especially those who are unlikely in my own
mind to become followers of Jesus. All the more glory for you. You are awesome!
In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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