Embracing Brokenness: God's Pursuit and Redemption

Devotional

Day 1: Pursued by Compassionate Love

God's relentless pursuit of humanity in the midst of brokenness is a profound demonstration of His compassionate love. This pursuit is not a mere search but a divine initiative to restore the relationship that sin has fractured. It is a reminder that one's worth is not diminished by their brokenness but is affirmed by God's unwavering desire to draw near. This divine pursuit is foundational to faith, offering assurance that God's love is not conditional but is an active, seeking force that moves toward the brokenhearted with the intent to heal and reconcile.

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Reflection: How can you open your heart today to sense God's pursuit and respond to His compassionate call?

Day 2: Grace Magnified in Imperfection

Our brokenness is not a mark of shame but a canvas on which God's grace is magnified. It is through our imperfections that His power is most clearly displayed. This perspective shifts the focus from hiding weaknesses to offering them to God as opportunities for His strength to be revealed. In doing so, believers can embrace their vulnerabilities, knowing that they serve a greater purpose in the narrative of God's redemptive work. This understanding encourages a life of transparency and reliance on God's sufficiency rather than one's own abilities.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Reflection: What weakness can you present to God today as an opportunity for His strength to be showcased in your life? [57:09]

Day 3: Transformed to Newness

The gospel's transformative power is not about improving what already exists but about creating something entirely new. This power is at work within us, renewing us day by day, and making us whole. As individuals experience this transformation, their lives become a testament to God's ongoing creative work. This newness of life is a profound aspect of the Christian journey, reflecting the reality that God is not done with us but is actively shaping us into His likeness.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Reflection: In what ways is God calling you to embrace the newness of life in Christ today? [01:02:15]

Day 4: Ambassadors on Mission

Those transformed by the gospel are called to live a life on mission, carrying the story of Jesus into every encounter. This mission is not a passive existence but an active representation of Christ's love and truth. As ambassadors of Christ, believers are tasked with reflecting His character to a world in need of hope. This calling elevates the purpose of every interaction and challenges individuals to live as narratives that point back to the Savior.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Reflection: How can you embody the role of Christ's ambassador in your interactions today? [01:00:55]

Day 5: Reflecting Glory in Community

The church, despite its imperfections, is called to reflect the glory of God. As a community of redeemed individuals, the church demonstrates the reality of the gospel through love, unity, and commitment to one another. In the collective brokenness of its members, the beauty of Christ's body is revealed. This communal aspect of faith challenges believers to look beyond individualism and embrace the collective testimony of a redeemed community.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Reflection: What steps can you take to contribute to the unity and love within your church community today? [55:55]

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound theme of brokenness and God's relentless pursuit of us amidst our fallen state. We began by acknowledging that our natural inclination is to view brokenness as something external, something that exists outside the walls of our church. Yet, Scripture reveals that brokenness is not only around us but within us. It is a universal condition that affects every human heart.

We delved into Genesis chapter three, where the narrative of humanity's fall is vividly portrayed. The serpent's crafty words led to the first act of disobedience, and with it, brokenness entered the world. This brokenness severed the perfect relationship between God and humanity, a relationship that was designed for intimacy and fellowship.

Despite this tragic turn of events, God did not abandon us. Instead, His response was to move towards us. In the garden, God asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" This question was not one of geographical inquiry but of relational pursuit. God was fully aware of their physical location, but He sought to restore the broken fellowship.

The sermon highlighted that our brokenness is not a barrier to God but a bridge. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered into our broken world to offer redemption and restoration. He lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death to bridge the gap that our sin had created. This is the heart of the gospel: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Furthermore, we were reminded that our story does not end with our reconciliation to God. Those who have experienced the transformative power of Christ are called to live a life on mission. We are to reflect Christ to a broken world, sharing the story of how He has made us new. Our mission is driven by the gospel and defined by God's mission to redeem and restore.

As we concluded, we were encouraged to embrace our brokenness, not as a mark of shame, but as a testament to God's grace. It is through our weaknesses that His strength is made perfect. We are jars of clay, bearing the treasure of the gospel, and it is through our cracks that the light of Christ shines forth.

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Sermon Clips

- "God knew exactly where they hid themselves, and he knew exactly where they now stood in relationship to him." [44:01] (Download | )

- "The beauty of Cherno's story is that eventually conversation after conversation, lunch after lunch, Cherno arrived at a place of realizing the weightiness of his brokenness and his need for a savior." [49:08] (Download | )

- "Jesus enters into the story of humanity as the fulfillment of the covenant that God made with man all the way back in the early chapters of Genesis." [50:22] (Download | )

- "It's the fractured places of our lives, the fractured places of this church, where we get to see the evidence of the gospel on beautiful display as the work of reconciliation begins to redeem and restore." [57:09] (Download | )

- "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God, not us." [58:40] (Download | )

- "The lives of those who Jesus encountered didn't stop with their reconciliation and restoration. They are sent out on mission with a story, a story pointing back to Jesus." [01:00:55] (Download | )

- "God's mission is to take what is broken and redeem it. Not simply to make it better, but to make it new." [01:02:15] (Download | )

- "Despite the brokenness of humanity, God pursues us in relationship." [46:31] (Download | Download cropped video)

- "The result of the man and woman's decision to go against that which God commanded was that their eyes were opened and sin stained the human condition." [42:51] (Download | )

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