The sadness comes when people are viewed in this manner. Often times the greatest trophies of God's grace are those who were so messed up that they were deemed as worthless and rubbish by others. Although we would never tell another person this directly some of us would still allow these thoughts to be entertained. Scripture serves to remind us that God makes Himself known through the broken down, the simple, the underprivileged, and even the outcasts. Those who have served as champions of God's grace are often those who have fallen very hard in this life and by God's grace they have stood back up, certainly humbled and disgraced, but forgiven and loved by God. I suppose we could say that they have been "repurposed".
When people come to Christ whose lives have been in ruin or return to Christ after a journey away from Him--can God still use them? Do we personally believe that they are valuable? Perhaps a better question is do we see them as forgiven by God and ready to move forward for His glory. Can God's glory still shine beautifully through their lives although once broken and perhaps still carrying battle scars. The answer is emphatically yes. God loves those with repentant hearts and those who find their restoration in Him alone. Through genuine humility and dependency upon God alone, lives can be transformed. David says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17)."
Most of us do not want to be broken by God and yet God chooses for His servants to go through difficult times. Many times it is in order for God to craft a vessel more fit for His service. God believes in restoration and He does the BEST work.
No comments:
Post a Comment