God’s Heart Toward Sinners
"I learned to live again from the breath of His life."
Ephesians 2:1-5 (NLT)
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Reflection
We cannot make ourselves alive. Only God can breathe life.
I have the loveliest sister, Trish. She loves the Lord and is lavishly generous and kind. We are extremely close.
As adults, we lived in two different worlds. She married a wealthy man; I married a pastor. She took her kids to Disney; I took mine camping. She raised her children in an affluent suburb; I raised mine in Detroit. Her kids received brand new cars on their sixteenth birthdays; my three boys shared a used Honda Civic. You get the idea.
Never had the ease of her life bothered me until 2000, when I went for a visit that coincided with a very wounded time in my personal life. She had no idea I was harboring sadness. Suddenly, her happy life blew gusts of hurt all over me. Unbeknownst to her, I had been white knuckling life, trying in my own strength to raise my boys and teach city kids. At that point, my sacrifices pinched and twisted me with regret.
Trish was hosting several guests and had paid for me to stay at a Bed and Breakfast on her block. On the last evening of my visit, my sorrow crested as I walked to my room. It was a smoldering, humid, Missouri night and with each step, hot tears rolled out of my heart through my eyes, down my cheeks onto my shoes. In the molecules of those tears were years of unfulfilled dreams and deep grief for what never was.
Unchecked disappointment can destroy gratitude and I found myself dead in my sins.
Any pain not surrendered to God becomes scar tissue and my heart was encased in it. As I entered my room, my knees folded by my bed, I heard God ask if I would answer His call on my life again: Would I return to Detroit and serve from a place of love and supply from Him?
As the Holy Spirit flooded my room, I repented for the years I had hoarded hurt. I laid it all down before Him and like a lifeless puppet pulled onto a puppeteer's arm, I felt the power of God surging through my withered soul. It is a pivotal moment that I reflect on often as I replay God's ability to take what is dead and bring it back to life. I learned to live again from the breath of His life.
Action Step
I’ve once heard it said that people will remember your story a lot longer than they will remember your message. What story can you tell about God raising your dead heart to life again? I would genuinely love to read it so please feel free to send me an email through the button below.
Prayer
Lord, You are so rich in mercy. Deluge our hearts again with Your life giving power. May we pulsate with life from Your supply. Amen.
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Reflection
We cannot make ourselves alive. Only God can breathe life.
I have the loveliest sister, Trish. She loves the Lord and is lavishly generous and kind. We are extremely close.
As adults, we lived in two different worlds. She married a wealthy man; I married a pastor. She took her kids to Disney; I took mine camping. She raised her children in an affluent suburb; I raised mine in Detroit. Her kids received brand new cars on their sixteenth birthdays; my three boys shared a used Honda Civic. You get the idea.
Never had the ease of her life bothered me until 2000, when I went for a visit that coincided with a very wounded time in my personal life. She had no idea I was harboring sadness. Suddenly, her happy life blew gusts of hurt all over me. Unbeknownst to her, I had been white knuckling life, trying in my own strength to raise my boys and teach city kids. At that point, my sacrifices pinched and twisted me with regret.
Trish was hosting several guests and had paid for me to stay at a Bed and Breakfast on her block. On the last evening of my visit, my sorrow crested as I walked to my room. It was a smoldering, humid, Missouri night and with each step, hot tears rolled out of my heart through my eyes, down my cheeks onto my shoes. In the molecules of those tears were years of unfulfilled dreams and deep grief for what never was.
Unchecked disappointment can destroy gratitude and I found myself dead in my sins.
Any pain not surrendered to God becomes scar tissue and my heart was encased in it. As I entered my room, my knees folded by my bed, I heard God ask if I would answer His call on my life again: Would I return to Detroit and serve from a place of love and supply from Him?
As the Holy Spirit flooded my room, I repented for the years I had hoarded hurt. I laid it all down before Him and like a lifeless puppet pulled onto a puppeteer's arm, I felt the power of God surging through my withered soul. It is a pivotal moment that I reflect on often as I replay God's ability to take what is dead and bring it back to life. I learned to live again from the breath of His life.
Action Step
I’ve once heard it said that people will remember your story a lot longer than they will remember your message. What story can you tell about God raising your dead heart to life again? I would genuinely love to read it so please feel free to send me an email through the button below.
Prayer
Lord, You are so rich in mercy. Deluge our hearts again with Your life giving power. May we pulsate with life from Your supply. Amen.
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