David had sinned. He was the King chosen by God—a man after the heart of God; yet, he had been tempted and failed. Trying to cover up that sin, he called Uriah home in hopes that Uriah would sleep with his wife and be fooled into believing that the baby she carried was his. But Uriah was a noble man and would not sleep in comfort or with his wife while his comrades were still in battle. So, as King; David sent Uriah into the front lines where he would certainly be killed. David would then take Bathsheba to be his wife and all would think him a gracious King. Grave sins, yes. David fell before God with a broken, contrite heart as we read Psalm 51 which is David’s prayer of repentance. Yet, the world continued to whisper about him and push him to moments of despair as we read in Psalm 69 where he says, “Reproach hath broken my heart: and I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” Still, God heard his cry. Look at verses 29-32: “But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. …The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God”. What? The humble will see God’s mercy and grace toward his repentant child and will be glad. The humble will rejoice that God’s grace has restored someone.
We shutter and think that “I WOULD NEVER” fail God so badly as David did. We quantify sin, as though one is greater than another and we measure ourselves as better than others. A human state of pride; as though lifting ourselves up or condemning others lessons the darkness there within our own self-exalting, pride-filled hearts. I learned a lot when I worked in the jail ministry. A lot about my own heart as well. How many times should I forgive and continue to reach out to help? Did Christ ever give up on me? Christ was criticized because He reached out for the sick, the sinners, the demon possessed, and the lowest among the people. We must humbly seek to help a brother that has fallen—to reach out a hand of kindness and forgiveness. Perhaps it is our hand that God will use to guide them. We must not set ourselves up as judge; rather, try to see their heart and display the same grace and mercy we have been given. This poem I write for anyone that has stumbled and fallen. I write this poem also as a reminder that our duty as Christians is not to be judge; rather to be the hand of Christ to help a fallen brother or sister in Christ.
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
By Effie Darlene Barba
Accused, Condemned in eyes of men
Rejected, hated for my sin
No one stopped to see my heart
Cast aside some broken part
That no one cared to see inside
The scars and sorrows that abide
A heart so filled with hopes and dreams
Of meadows green and crystal streams
Lay shattered, broken cast away
With nothing good or kind to say
Chorus
Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
How quickly men’s own selfish pride
Does cast away and cast aside
A fallen one—a broken heart
Who needs your hand to help them start!
Christ had come to heal the lame
To lift their guilt and take their shame
He called the sinners to His side
To know His love-in Him abide
So why do we not give our hand
To help a fallen one to stand
So, prideful man with heart so small
Be careful lest you too shall fall
Chorus
For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header, the portrait used today, and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at Artedabarba@gmail.com to discuss any art projects.
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. 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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