How quick we are to judge these people for their lack of faith, their failures and their failures to follow God’s commands. After all, hadn’t they seen God’s goodness demonstrated so many times? What about us? When will we get it right or fully understand? So often I have through the years been in one way or another in their place of rebellion or fear. With the greatest treasure right before me, I stumbled. Then there I lay with a broken heart. Once more I stood alone in the wilderness of life. But there it was, the Grace of God reached forth to me every time. Somewhere amid the darkest moments of sorrow, He came and taught me a lesson of obedience I could never have learned otherwise. With His sweeping Hand of Grace and Love, He restored my hope, my faith, and my joy.
It was always easy to find a million excuses to overlook my sin. Afterall look how the Bible is filled with men and their failures. Perhaps this is the best God has for me and I can never hope for anything else? Well, after all I am only human, what can you expect? It was such a moment as that, when I came face to face with the depth of my own brokenness and the magnitude of God’s grace. That was when I wrote A Broken and Contrite Heart. With all that I had learned, one would think that would be the end of my stumbling. But, alas, it was not.
A Broken Heart
With each step of the journey, it was the Grace of a relentlessly pursuing God who subdued me. My heart would lay shattered and God would pick of the pieces to start again. What was so amazing was. Each time He picked up the pieces and put them back together, He transformed a small part that allowed me to see His glory more fully. One day, finally the lesson of obedience became a part of my heart, at least concerning my greatest area of weakness. Only then, He began working to transform another blemish I had not seen until the other was done away with.
Ah, but it is so easy to become judgmental when you see another walking the path you just finally overcame. Furthermore, we think sometimes by warning them, we may circumvent their broken heart before God. Yet, wasn’t it just that broken heart that lead to our growth in faith and our desire for obedience? So, just like God has demonstrated for us; we must be there standing with grace and love to wrap our arms around them no matter what.
My broken heart lead me to the closer walk with God, where I feel His presence. He has step by step taught me of my identity in Jesus. Therein I have learned that He is big enough to transform me and to seat me in the heavenlies, though I deserve nothing of His grace. Yet, He chose me to be His beloved, blessed, redeemed child, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. My sins are all covered by His blood, so freely given and I am secure in Him.
God’s Grace
God had just told the children of Israel they could not enter the promised land because of their rebellion; but their children would go in. In the very next breath God said, “‘When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you” (Numbers 15:1), then do this. God has not and never will change in His promises to you. When you come into the land you are to inhabit. That is, when you reach your destiny in this journey, you will be like Jesus. But for now, we are to keep moving, learning, and growing. God’s grace for everyone who has accepted Him as Lord and Savior is just that. Our hearts will be fully transformed into one that looks like Jesus.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30).
So, the only real question is: “Do you know Him as Lord and Savior?” If so, all this will lead to transforming you step by step into His image. No matter what! The same is true of you and of every other Christian. It is God who saves and it is God who transforms. He did not prevent Peter from denying Him. Rather, God took Peter’s failure and his broken heart, transforming Peter into one who knew obedience. That is Amazing Grace.
Lesson of Obedience
There it is. As we grow in Christ, our broken hearts are transformed by grace into hearts desiring obedience. For it is by grace and grace alone that we are saved. Therefore, it is grace alone that transforms us and teaches obedience springing forth from His love toward us growing in us.
Numbers 15: 39-41
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
41 I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.
God does tell the people the cost of atonement. We also must never forget the cost of atonement for our sins; therein lies the heart of the gospel message for each of us. As we remember the cost of atonement, we are reminded of the depth of love and grace we have been given. He told them to wear tassles with blue thread to remind them.
Whatever you need as a reminder, place that on your heart today.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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