Raising The Broken To Life
Raising The Broken To Life
Audio Version Coming Soon!
In mercy gathered
Mended and whole
Empty handed
But not forsaken
I've been set free
I've been set free
True love allows freedom to choose. Only then can you know if it is true love. The Bible states God created man and woman in His own image and likeness with the ability to choose to follow Him or choose their own way. Only in this way could unconditional love be received or given.
With His plan, He could protect and provide for them. If they chose a different direction than His plan, He would not take their freedom to choose away, regardless of the cost. With that different direction, mans’ choice has the potential for good, difficult or disastrous consequences. Unless man returns to God's plan, he will have to live with the consequences his choices have created.
This relationship, God with man: it is a choice God made toward man. Then, man has the freedom to accept it or reject it. Not forced, no payment can be made that hasn’t already been paid by Jesus himself, it can’t be earned; only accepted. Then we have the responsibility to choose to act or not act. But it is our choice.
In the gospel of John, John tells us:
“For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received all had a share and we were all supplied with one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16-17 AMP
In John, he says out of Christ’s fullness His abundance we were supplied grace. Not just a little grace but an abundance of grace. His grace. We receive His grace of the forgiveness of each and every sin; when we ask for it. His grace is there every time we feel like we can’t get up when down, we can’t move when we’re frozen by fear or when we need strength we think we don’t have when challenged by circumstances.
There are times when we are tired of being strong or loving and we know that we are empty and are sure we have nothing of value let to give anyone. When we ask, when we look to God, when we resolve our lives are in His hands; this is where God’s grace comes in abundance. He gives us grace, wisdom, and strength we never thought we could have.
In Ephesians Paul says it this way:
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
Ephesians 2:8-9 AMP
The key is when we choose to put our lives in God's hands, make Him the driver when we choose God’s plan not ours that His grace pours in.
He covers our weaknesses, He forgives our mistakes, and He fortifies our strengths with His love and grace. Unconditional love. Because you see He knows we’ll slip and fall again. He knows we will sin again today. When we are committed to Him we ask Him to forgive and give us the ability to become better people in spite of our weaknesses.
And He does.
His two commands are to Love God with all your mind, heart, soul and body; love your neighbor as yourself. A few of the operative words are love your neighbor as yourself. We just considered how much God loves us. We want all the grace and love we can get. So let’s turn that outward, to those around us.
Through our lives, God desires that we become restored, healthy in mind body and spirit. So He allows people and circumstances in our lives to build and encourage us. God desires that we are a reflection of Him to those we meet. We still have work every day to be a better reflection of what God has done in our lives but Jesus puts it this way in Matthew:
A Simple Guide for Behavior
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part.
Matthew 7:1-5 MSG
With the grace, we have been given we need to give. The love that God has shown us we need to remember “but by the grace of God, there go I.” We're not saying we are better but saying it’s only by God’s grace we are improving. With God’s help, with time spent with Him, our life can be an inspiration to those around us to be the best they can be. Not through criticism but through example. In AA there is a saying “attraction rather than promotion.”
With Christ came truth and grace. Truth and grace are both incredibly powerful realities. Are they a part of your reality today? Can you take time today to remember what God has done for you? Maybe your story will be what brings hope to someone else when you share your experience, strength and hope with them.
TO HEAR "Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)" by Hillsong CLICK BELOW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyYoe678yI
"Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)"
All these pieces
Broken and scattered
In mercy gathered
Mended and whole
Empty handed
But not forsaken
I've been set free
I've been set free
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
Oh I can see it now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life
You take our failure
You take our weakness
You set Your treasure
In jars of clay
So take this heart, Lord
I'll be Your vessel
The world to see
Your love in me
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
Oh I can see it now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
[2x]
Oh I can see it now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
[2x]
Oh I can see it now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying yourself down
Raising up the broken to life
[3x]
Hillsong Worship
