“It is Good for the Heart to be Strengthened by Grace” 
       

                This statement, from Heb 13.9, stood out to me this morning. Perhaps my heart needed a little strengthening from the grace of God, as it so often does. No, not “so often”—always! Sometimes I feel inadequate, like Solomon who felt like a child who did not know how to go out our come in (1 Kings 3.7). Other times I feel just plain broken.  I’m sure you do as well. During such times, it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.
 

There is a strong emphasis on grace in the New Testament, where the Greek word for grace (charis) occurs 156 times. Paul was especially focused on grace. After speaking to the Ephesian elders, perhaps for the last time, he closes by saying, “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20.32). He tells Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2.1). Peter likewise focused on grace, using the word ten times in 1 Peter alone. He then ends his second letter by admonishing his readers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3.18).
 

Both of these apostles were strong on grace because they both knew brokenness. Peter knew failure all too well. He got out of the boat, but he lost his focus on Jesus and began to sink (Mt 14). He made the great confession, then turned around and rebuked the Lord (Mt 16). He pulled out his sword and struck off Malchus’ ear, only to deny the Lord three times at Jesus’ hour of need (Mt 26). Even years later, Peter had to be publicly rebuked by Paul for once again failing to live up to his profession of faith (Gal 2). The apostle Paul knew his own failings as well. He saw himself as “the foremost of all sinners” (1 Tim 1.15), and the “least of saints” (Eph 3.8). Both of these great apostles were keenly aware of their own inadequacy and brokenness (cf. 1 Cor 2.3; 2 Cor 3.5; 4.7-12; 12.7-10).
 

There is a beautiful song written by Ken Young of Hallel, the chorus of which goes like this: “O Lord who uses broken things/Who through broken clouds/Gives a sweet, sweet rain/Who gives us bread, from broken grain/O lord make me stronger/Through broken things.”  The song is about the son of a farmer trying to live the legacy of his father, but he cries that “the plow is so heavy I can’t hold on.” He cries out to the “One who still gives broken hearts new dreams”, asking Him to fill his heart with this song. It is the prayer of a broken heart, asking God to make him stronger through his very brokenness. It is the prayer of a one who doesn’t feel up to the task, asking God for hope. That is the message of the gospel: Strength through grace. But before we can be made strong in the Lord, we must first come to that place of brokenness and inadequacy. Only then will God be able to fully use us in his service. But how fully he will use us!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2006 Randy Hohf