Embracing Grace: From Brokenness to Restoration

Devotional

Day 1: God Uses Broken Pasts for His Glory

No matter what is in your past, God can use your brokenness for His purposes. The story of Moses, who fled Egypt in shame after committing murder, shows that God’s call and forgiveness are greater than our worst mistakes. Moses trusted God’s voice over his own shame and returned to the very place that had hurt him, becoming a deliverer for his people. When you feel disqualified by your past, remember that God’s grace is not limited by your failures—He delights in using broken vessels to accomplish His will. [13:04]

Exodus 2:11-15; 3:1-10 (ESV)
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Reflection: What is one area of your past that you believe disqualifies you from serving God, and how might you take a step of faith to trust His call over your shame today?

Day 2: Forgiveness Frees Us to Love Deeply

Accepting God’s forgiveness allows us to love others with abandon, just as the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet did. She was known as a sinner, yet her costly act of worship flowed from a heart that had received much forgiveness. Jesus teaches that those who accept much forgiveness love much, and it is not the quantity of our sin but our willingness to receive His grace that transforms us into more loving people. When you let go of shame and embrace God’s mercy, you are set free to love others extravagantly. [16:54]

Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then 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. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Reflection: Who in your life could you love more freely if you truly accepted the depth of God’s forgiveness for yourself?

Day 3: The Father’s Heart Is Restoration, Not Condemnation

God’s response to our return is always compassion and restoration, not condemnation. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father runs to embrace his wayward child before he can even finish his apology, showing that forgiveness is not about earning but about the loving character of the Father. False humility and shame do not bring us closer to God; instead, He invites us to receive His grace and step into restored relationship and purpose. [22:56]

Luke 15:18-24 (ESV)
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

Reflection: When you think about your own failures, do you imagine God running to embrace you or holding you at a distance? How might you let His compassion reshape your view of Him today?

Day 4: God’s Mercy, Not Our Merit, Is the Basis for Forgiveness

True repentance is rooted in God’s character—His faithful love and abundant compassion—not in our ability to bargain or prove ourselves. David’s prayer in Psalm 51, after his public and grievous sin, is a model of coming to God with honesty and dependence on His mercy. He does not promise better behavior or list his good deeds; instead, he asks God to create a clean heart and restore him, trusting entirely in God’s grace. When you bring your past to God, focus on who He is rather than what you have done. [28:09]

Psalm 51:1-12 (ESV)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Reflection: When you confess your sins, do you find yourself trying to earn God’s forgiveness, or do you rest in His steadfast love? What would it look like to pray like David today?

Day 5: Restoration Is Found in Running to Jesus, Not Away

The difference between healing and destruction is not the size of our sin, but where we take it—restoration comes when we run to Jesus with our brokenness. Peter and Judas both failed Jesus, but Peter turned to Jesus and was restored, while Judas turned inward and was destroyed. Jesus not only forgave Peter but also gave him a new purpose, showing that God’s plan is always restoration. No matter what you have done, God invites you to bring your past to Him, lay down your shame, and follow Him into a new future. [34:00]

John 21:15-19 (ESV)
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection: Is there a failure or regret you’ve been carrying that you need to bring to Jesus today? What would it look like to lay it down and accept His restoration and calling?

Sermon Summary

Grace is not just a concept to be understood, but a reality to be lived. In God’s kingdom, brokenness is not a disqualification—it’s often the very thing that makes us more useful, more compassionate, and more open to His purposes. The stories of John Newton, Moses, the woman with the alabaster jar, the prodigal son, David, Peter, and even Tommy from our own community, all point to a God who delights in redeeming broken pasts. Each of these lives was marked by failure, shame, or public sin, yet God’s response was not rejection, but restoration and calling.

The challenge is to identify the places in our own pasts that we believe disqualify us from God’s love or calling. Too often, we let shame or a sense of unworthiness keep us from stepping into what God has for us. But the truth is, when we cling to our shame, we are not being humble—we are actually rejecting the fullness of God’s forgiveness. The cross is level ground; all have sinned, and all are offered the same extravagant grace.

The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume did so because she knew how much she had been forgiven. Her worship was reckless and costly, but it flowed from a heart that had encountered mercy. Jesus’ words, “the one who is forgiven much loves much,” remind us that the depth of our love is directly connected to our willingness to receive forgiveness. When we accept God’s forgiveness, we are freed to love others deeply and serve boldly, no longer defined by our past but by His grace.

The story of the prodigal son shows us the heart of the Father—He runs to restore, not to punish. False humility and self-condemnation do not bring us closer to God; only surrender and trust in His character do. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 is a model for us: he appeals not to his own merit, but to God’s steadfast love and mercy. Likewise, Peter’s restoration after denying Jesus demonstrates that what matters is not the size of our failure, but where we take it—will we run to Jesus or away from Him?

God’s plan is always restoration. No matter what is in your past, bring it to Jesus. Let go of shame, accept His forgiveness, and step into the freedom and calling He has for you.

Key Takeaways

1. Brokenness is not a barrier, but a bridge to God’s purposes. In the kingdom, God often uses the very areas of our lives that feel most disqualified or damaged. When we surrender our brokenness, we become more compassionate, more dependent on grace, and more available for God’s work. Our past does not define our future—God’s redemption does. [00:48]
2. Shame masquerades as humility but actually rejects God’s forgiveness. When we let shame dictate our identity, we are not being spiritual or humble; we are refusing to let God’s grace have the final word. True humility is agreeing with God about who we are—deeply flawed, yet fully forgiven and called. [13:51]
3. The depth of our love is tied to our willingness to receive forgiveness. Jesus teaches that those who accept much forgiveness become the most loving. If we struggle to love others or ourselves, it may be because we have not fully received the forgiveness offered to us. Accepting grace transforms us into people who love and serve with abandon. [16:54]
4. God’s restoration is rooted in His character, not our performance. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 shows us that forgiveness is not earned by promises or good deeds, but is a gift flowing from God’s steadfast love and mercy. When we come to God, we point to His character, not our own worthiness. [26:38]
5. Where we take our failure determines our future. Both Peter and Judas failed Jesus, but only Peter brought his brokenness to Christ and was restored. The difference was not the size of their sin, but their response to it. When we run to Jesus with our past, He restores, calls, and empowers us for His purposes. [30:48]
** [30:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:48] - Broken is Better: The Kingdom Perspective
[02:01] - Facing Our Broken Past
[02:41] - Tending Your Heart: Personal Reflection
[09:37] - Tommy’s Story: From Brokenness to Mission
[10:33] - Returning to Places of Hurt
[11:23] - Moses: Shame, Failure, and God’s Call
[12:06] - Trusting God’s Forgiveness Over Shame
[13:04] - The Trap of Spiritual Cop-Outs
[13:51] - When Shame Defines Us
[14:51] - The Alabaster Jar: Costly Worship and Forgiveness
[15:57] - The Weight of the Past
[16:54] - Forgiven Much, Loves Much
[18:18] - The Level Ground of the Cross
[19:22] - Faith in Forgiveness: Moses and the Woman
[20:52] - The Prodigal Son: The Father’s Heart
[22:56] - False Humility vs. True Restoration
[26:02] - David’s Sin and Prayer for Mercy
[26:38] - Appealing to God’s Character
[29:01] - Living Forgiven: Another Costly Act of Worship
[30:09] - Peter and Judas: Two Responses to Failure
[31:25] - Peter’s Restoration and Calling
[33:01] - Letting Go of Shame
[34:37] - Accepting God’s Forgiveness
[35:32] - Restoration and Surrender
[36:20] - Prayer and Invitation to Respond
[37:09] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Luke 7:36–50 (ESV) — > 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
> ...
> 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
> ...
> 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

2. Luke 15:18–24 (ESV) — > 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
> ...
> 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

3. Psalm 51:1–12 (ESV) — > 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
> 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
> ...
> 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
> 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Observation Questions

In Luke 7, what actions did the woman take to show her love and gratitude to Jesus? What was the response of the Pharisee and of Jesus? ([13:51])
In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15), how does the father respond when his son returns home? What does the son try to say, and how does the father interrupt him? ([21:48])
According to Psalm 51, what does David appeal to when he asks for forgiveness? Does he try to bargain with God or point to his own good deeds? ([26:38])
The sermon mentioned that both Peter and Judas failed Jesus, but only one was restored. What did Peter do differently after his failure? ([30:48])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the woman in Luke 7 was willing to risk public shame to worship Jesus so extravagantly? What does this say about her understanding of forgiveness? ([14:51])
The prodigal son rehearses a speech about being unworthy, but the father interrupts him with love and restoration. What does this reveal about God’s heart toward those who feel disqualified by their past? ([22:56])
David’s prayer in Psalm 51 focuses on God’s character rather than his own merit. Why is this important for understanding how forgiveness works? ([26:38])
The sermon says, “Shame masquerades as humility but actually rejects God’s forgiveness.” How can holding onto shame actually be a form of pride or unbelief? ([13:51])

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to identify places in our past that we believe disqualify us from God’s love or calling. Is there a specific area in your life where you feel unworthy or disqualified? What would it look like to bring that to Jesus this week? ([02:01])
When you think about your own failures or shame, do you tend to run toward God or away from Him? What practical step could you take to “run to Jesus” instead of hiding? ([34:00])
The woman with the alabaster jar worshiped Jesus with “reckless abandon” because she knew she was forgiven. Is there an area of your life where you are holding back in worship or service because of shame or fear of what others think? ([14:51])
The sermon said, “When we let shame dictate our identity, we are not being spiritual or humble; we are refusing to let God’s grace have the final word.” How can you remind yourself this week that your identity is defined by God’s grace, not your past? ([13:51])
David’s prayer in Psalm 51 is a model for appealing to God’s mercy. Is there a prayer of confession or surrender you need to pray this week? What would it sound like if you focused on God’s character instead of your own performance? ([26:38])
The difference between Peter and Judas was not the size of their sin, but where they took it. When you fail, what is your first instinct? How can you practice taking your failures to Jesus for restoration? ([30:48])
The sermon said, “God’s plan is always restoration.” What is one step you can take this week to let go of shame and step into the freedom and calling God has for you? ([35:32])

Sermon Clips

When we accept forgiveness, what do we become? More loving people. It doesn't just let us off the hook. It frees us up to show a more loving person to those people around us. [00:20:10] (15 seconds) #ForgivenessFreesLove

A lot of times, and it's very natural, I know a lot of people that deal with it, is whenever we mess up, or just even living our Christian lives, is we kind of think like God is like a bully, or Jesus is like a bully at the lunch table just waiting for you to mess up so he can slug you. [00:22:56] (15 seconds) #GodIsNotABully

``The son comes home with a plan to earn forgiveness but the father runs, restores, and embraces before the son can finish his speech. Forgiveness is not about earning, it's about who the father is. I'm going to say it again because I don't think you got it. Forgiveness is not about earning like everything else in this life, it's about who the father is. [00:24:19] (29 seconds) #ForgivenessIsFather’sNature

When you come to God for forgiveness, are you pointing to yourself or Him? A lot of times it's like we have to get it all off of our chest and God, I did this, I did this. David didn't even say anything signifying what he had done or whatever. Like, he's just focusing on God and God's work. [00:28:35] (26 seconds) #FocusOnGodNotSelf

But when you live in his forgiveness, your past loses the power to define you. But the truth is, we have to go to Jesus with this. If we want to live full, like, lives towards him, we have to go to Jesus. And where we go with our past makes all the difference. [00:29:44] (25 seconds) #ForgivenessRedefinesYou

The difference with Peter and Judas wasn't the size of their sin. It was where they went with it. When you fail, you run to Jesus. [00:34:00] (15 seconds) #RunToJesusNotAway

God's plan is always, always, always restoration. Bring your past to Jesus and surrender. Not shame. [00:35:37] (19 seconds) #RestorationNotShame

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