Thursday, March 13, 2014

When is it good to have a broken heart?

Feb. 2, 2014

When is it good to have a broken heart?

We are in February… the “love month” complete with Valentine’s Day and other customs that honor human love.  It is also a month when many suffer from “broken hearts.”  This can be a tough time.  Yet sometimes, the condition of a “broken heart” allows God’s love to heal and for spiritual renewal to happen.

Today we gather around the Communion Table.  As we come today, know that even as we break the bread and pour the cup remembering Jesus’ body broken and his blood shed, God desires us to come broken as well.  God desires that we come with hearts broken for that which breaks God’s heart.  Hearts broken in confession for the ways in which we have strayed.  Hearts broken for the poor and oppressed.  Hearts broken for the sick and suffering.  Hearts broken for those where justice is not served.

As our hearts break for that which breaks God’s heart, the healing and power of the Spirit has room to fill our lives.  As our hearts break in desire for a closer relationship with God, Jesus enters in and fills us with fellowship, love and hope.

Several members of our congregation mentioned that they read Oswald Chamber’s devotion, My Utmost for His Highest.  This is a classic and worth checking out.  Chambers says, “If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.” And again he says, “If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him.” If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, ‘I will only go to there, but no farther.’ God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose becomes one.”

Jesus says, Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Rev. 3:20). It’s through the door of a broken heart that Jesus enters our lives.  May we be an open, even if broken, people today!

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

tmartin@epcfl.org           (321) 723-8371 ext. 217

 

 

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