Broken Hearted
Posted by Sandy in Christian Living, tags: 1 Timothy, Living from God's Heart, Matthew, Psalm
Developing a generous heart brings you face to face with a needy world. At some point, you will see and feel the immensity and desperateness of the need and your heart will be broken. You will see people who have no hope and long to be able to give more than you have to give.
A broken heart is painful. A broken heart is a good thing.
Christ died of a broken heart. Hear his grieving over his unrequited love for His people:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
It wasn’t just a New Testament/Israelites thing. Paul wrote to Timothy:
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)
Just as Jesus longed to gather the Israelites under His wings, the One who gave His life as a ransom for all men desires that all men be saved.
He died so that men and women could live forever, yet His heart breaks because they reject Him.
Even those of us who know Him contribute to His broken heart. He longs to bless us yet we live lives of compromise that hinder Him from doing what brings Him joy.
When you love as much as Christ loves, your heart will be broken. When you give as much as Christ gave, your heart will be broken.
Yes, when we live from God’s heart, we live in His joy. Yet in the paradox that is living in Christ, we also live broken hearted. Grieved for those who don’t know Him. Painfully aware of the needs of those around us. Sorry for our own sin.
We don’t live in condemnation, but we live in humility.
A broken heart is a good thing. It is a very tangible way that we know we are becoming more like Christ. It also carries the promise that God will be near us:
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
Don’t despise your broken heart. Don’t run away from it because it’s not happy or fun. Embrace it, knowing that it is a foreshadowing of joy. It will prompt you to give, which brings joy. It will prompt you to repent or change, which brings blessing. It makes you more like Christ.
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