22 August 2007
The Greatest Single Factor — Wrap up
Do you think it’s possible to be both loved and hated?
I do.
And there’s hardly a better example (isn’t, in fact) than Jesus.
Have you ever heard of anyone else who could attract multitudes willing to ride his coat tales all the way to Rome’s front steps? The throngs were trying to make Him their king!
His approval rating must have been in the upper 90’s!
But just a week later…ONE STINKIN WEEK…that same crowd cried out for His execution.
So, yeah, it’s possible.
In fact, if you’re a Christ follower, expect it.
It comes with the territory.
Your best way through it?
Be broken before the Lord.
When it comes to worthy vessels, God loves most the cracked pots!
Meditate on this chapter. It’s one of my very favorite Psalms. This is David’s prayer after his season of sin and separation from God.
Psalm 51
Read it.
Meditate upon it.
Learn from it.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
2 Comments currently posted.
melissa says:
JT says:
I have been there…I haven’t killed anyone because I slept with another man’s wife, but I have been ‘broken’ a few times before. Pride is an attribute that I am all to familiar with. Over the years pride has caused me to do some foolish things that in hind-sight were stupid. Pride is a constant battle for me. I’m a pretty fired up kinda guy and sometimes pride can take that and put the focus on me. That is not the intention, but my actions may be perceived differently by others. Pride says…’Screw those people that think that about me.’ Brokeness says, ‘It’s not about you JT’.
Thanks for the reminder of Psalms 51. What a powerful scripture to remind us what our attitude needs to be as we approach God during our time of brokeness. Thank God that he loves me so much that he wants to break me to show me where I need improvement. Thank God that his grace is enough for me.
psalm 51 is great scripture to read when you are in the throws of being “broken”. Knowing, at the end is a closer and more intimite walk with the Lord somehow gets you through it. Thanks Rob.