My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
One of the things that encourages me most when I am reading the Bible is all of the brokenness that is seen in the lives of the men and women who are central to God’s unfolding story of redemption. If there was only one reason to believe in the truth of the Bible — and there are a great many more reasons, to be sure — the fact that the Bible makes no attempt to hide all the flaws, faithlessness, and failures of God’s people would be enough for me. Who would ever put such unflinching accounts of brokenness into a story other than God?
Consider the “character” of some of these biblical characters:
- Adam – The first man blamed God and Eve for his own sin
- Abraham – The “father of the faithful” claimed that his wife was his sister to save his own skin
- Jacob – Stole his brother’s birthright
- Moses – Murdered an Egyptian taskmaster, hid the body, and then fled the country
- Aaron – Helped the Israelites create a golden calf to be worshiped in place of God
- David – Committed adultery and murder
- Jonah – Ran away from God’s call in his life
- Matthew – Worked as a despised tax collector for Rome before Jesus called him
- Mary Magdalene — Was possessed by seven demons
- James and John – Wanted the chief seats in God’s kingdom
- Martha – Was so encumbered by her service that she got angry at her sister and snapped at Jesus
- Peter – Denied that he knew Jesus three times on the night the Lord was betrayed
- Paul – Arrested, jailed, and murdered early Christians before Jesus called him into service
The Word of God is unabashedly honest about the reality of the human condition and all its brokenness. God does not hide it. God does not minimize it. God simply shows us that we are all broken in more ways than we would care to admit. The Bible’s depiction of the reality of life in a fallen and broken world is as accurate as it is encouraging.
Why is this so encouraging? Because these inspired accounts teach us that we do not need to shy away from our brokenness and let the enemy convince us that God cannot use us. God uses broken people. God uses flawed people. God uses really messed up people, because they are all He has to use in this world! We are all misfits for our Master.
Where has your brokenness kept you from doing what God is calling you to do? Be encouraged by all the broken people in the Bible! Know that God uses broken people to make His world whole once again . . . and He wants to use you!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 