Unbroken
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
I hear Christians say it every day, "we're all broken." There are even popular songs on the topic.
We seem to languish in that place, defeated, and often using the condition as a crutch or excuse for our many shortcomings.
Hearing such things, I sometimes wonder if we're reading the same book, the Holy Bible.
When I read God's Word, I read a different story. I read of the sacrifice of Jesus, the breaking of His body so that I can be healed and made whole. I read in the Holy Bible's account of the first Lord's Supper, "and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”" (1 Corinthians 11:24).
I hear Christians say it every day, "we're all broken." There are even popular songs on the topic.
We seem to languish in that place, defeated, and often using the condition as a crutch or excuse for our many shortcomings.
Hearing such things, I sometimes wonder if we're reading the same book, the Holy Bible.
When I read God's Word, I read a different story. I read of the sacrifice of Jesus, the breaking of His body so that I can be healed and made whole. I read in the Holy Bible's account of the first Lord's Supper, "and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”" (1 Corinthians 11:24).
I read Psalm 147:3, which says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
I read about a God who is in the restoration business, as in the story of Job, "He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness" (Job 33:26).
And, Psalm 23:3, which tells us, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake."
Satan often screams loudly, telling us that we are (in Elf terms) a cotton-headed ninny-muggins, broken, imperfect people who couldn't possibly make a difference in God's Kingdom.
But Jesus tells us something else altogether. His Word tells us that Jesus is Creator. Isaiah 43:15 tells us, "I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King."
He is our Healer in Psalm 103:3, "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases."
And, He restores the broken. 1 Peter 5:10 encourages us, "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
In the beautiful movie of the life of Louis Zamperini entitled, Unbroken, it is difficult to imagine anyone suffering more than Louis, yet that is exactly what Jesus Christ did. He suffered more than any other human being--for you and for me--that we might be healed, restored, unbroken.
I would much rather live in this, my true identity, than any other.
Wouldn't you?
Goodnight, Runners.
But Jesus tells us something else altogether. His Word tells us that Jesus is Creator. Isaiah 43:15 tells us, "I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King."
He is our Healer in Psalm 103:3, "He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases."
And, He restores the broken. 1 Peter 5:10 encourages us, "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."
In the beautiful movie of the life of Louis Zamperini entitled, Unbroken, it is difficult to imagine anyone suffering more than Louis, yet that is exactly what Jesus Christ did. He suffered more than any other human being--for you and for me--that we might be healed, restored, unbroken.
I would much rather live in this, my true identity, than any other.
Wouldn't you?
Goodnight, Runners.
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