November 17, 2011
“Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. … Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.” Psalm 51:13,16-17 The Message
It seems to take so long to learn Who God is .. What He wants .. and Everything He has for us when we come running. You can know all the facts .. be grounded in theological foundations .. and be “doing all the right things” and discover a treasure of emptiness. Why? You’ve done all the right things. You’ve believed in the right things. You’ve even avoided all the wrong things. And along comes someone who’s made a mess of it all .. lost it all .. or is exhausted from trying to hold it all together. And they walk free! They don’t walk above anyone or see anyone beneath them. They walk with an assurance of being put together by Jesus. He’s met them at heart-broken moments .. giving-up moments .. and can’t-take-any-more moments. He’s the One who gave them freedom from all the things that made them slaves .. and they don’t won’t to go back. God’s school of discipleship is tuitioned with pride-shattered .. heart-shattered .. and life-shattered lives. Not one life looks the same but everyone knows they were in the same place when they found the One who had already found them. Isn’t it amazing the God doesn’t turn from you when your heart is shattered .. and maybe it’s your own fault. He doesn’t wait for you to catch up. He shows up right at your side .. right at your heart .. right at that place where you can’t breathe. Disciples become easily cluttered with life-stuff that we think we’ll use one day or we’ve just grown accustomed to carrying around. If it doesn’t flow from the heart of God it will only leave us broken and shattered. God created you to walk in the light of His grace .. to live in His presence .. and to love the life He is living in you. He’s shattered all those heart-breaking .. pride-shattering .. gut-kicking moments on the Cross. And when or if they happen again .. you’ll know you can come running to One who’s already running in your direction. And God calls that worship! … and it only takes a moment …
“If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. … God pays for each slaves freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.” Psalm 34:18,19,22 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Broken-into-Wholeness Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (ken@priorityone.org)
