There are certain times in my life in which God has revealed to me many ways I don’t love Him or know Him. To think I have “arrived” – in any area of my life – simply reveals my pride and the hardness of my heart. I need to daily confess my lack and my need to Him – to confess I am utterly helpless, useless and worthless apart from Him.
As we humble ourselves and become honest with God and others, the sweet fragrance of intimacy and fellowship with Jesus is released. His pure love is the perfume that He wants to pour out through us. But He can only pour Himself out of a broken vessel. Let me share a short account from the life of Jesus about the importance of having our hearts broken by the healing love of Jesus Christ.
Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him [Jesus] to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined [at the table.] And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining [at the table] in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind [Him] at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and [began] kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw [this,] he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman [is] who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!" And Jesus responded and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher.”
"A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty. When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little." And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." And [then] those who were reclining [at the table] with Him began saying to themselves, "Who is this [man] who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50 NASB
In John 11 we find the story of how Jesus received word that His dear friend, Lazarus, had passed away. In verse 36 we find His simple response to this news. It says, “Jesus wept.” I believe Jesus had his heart broken by the loss of His friend…and this, in turn, reminds me that Jesus’ heart was broken over the sin and wounding and suffering of mankind to such a great degree that He gave His life to bring us salvation and healing and comfort and joy. That is the heart of our Lord and, as new creations, should be our heart as well.
We live in a divisive time. That’s just reality. One of the things that gets me through such times is actually quite simple. I am not commanded to agree with anyone else…but I am commanded to love every person I come in contact with. I can disagree and still lay down my life for the person I disagree with. How can I do that?
I don’t take animosity toward me in a personal way. When I am insulted or offended or ridiculed or mocked I simply remind myself that I am God’s vessel on this earth and that those hurtful words or actions are actually directed at the Lord. I pray for those who express hatred toward me. I bless those who curse me. I honestly want others to know the depth of God’s healing love I have come to know and this helps me put on forgiveness and keep on loving.
I do not carry the burden of changing anyone else’s mind or life. I want to see others as Father God sees them…and this breaks my heart in a good way. I just want others to know Jesus and the love of God that healed me…even if I get hurt along the way.
I think the attitude of Jesus as expressed in John 3:16-17 explains it best. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
Let that same attitude be ours in the coming days. Let’s live our lives broken and spilled out for Jesus as we put His love in action.
Dennis Jernigan
To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this blog and to hear the song, Break My Heart, O God, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/break-my-heart-o-god/
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