You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

Criteria 1: Are you broken?

Do you think you are useless or too broken to be of any use? Think again!

Can you take a moment to think of at least  five people who were regarded as of no value to any organisation?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

What categories of people did you come up with? Now try filling in these sectors:

Food:

Clue: Who was rejected countless times by the banks until he eventually set up a now renown franchise?

Athlete – Swimmer:

Clue: She became a paraplegic.

Born deformed:

Clue: He did marry and have children and motivates others.

Music – blinded at infancy:

Clue: Her songs/hymns are timeless

Labelled a retard:

Clue: He is regarded as the founding father of a leading nation.

Do you believe in miracles?

What people regard as useless, no-hope, lost cases, nut cases, rejects… the torch light of the Maker penetrates deep within the heart of those souls. When they cry out to God for solace, strength and purpose, He hears. He answers in ways people least expect. God works in ways we can never fully understand.

Now you might say to yourself, “Well, I don’t fit into any of those categories!” Then ask yourself this question, “Am I truely at peace with myself and fulfilling my purpose?” or “Am I just working to enjoy myself  and be comfortable till I die?”

Peter was a hard-working fisherman. He often got into trouble because he let his mouth leap ahead of his brain. This same Peter was meant to be a loyal friend but he denied his close friend three times. Imagine how his other friends and family saw him after this? Could they trust him? Would you trust such a person? He was a flawed man with a big mouth, but a broken spirit.

Read more about Peter here:

His denial – Matthew 26:69-75

His dejection – Matthew 26:75b

The call – John 21:15-17

Interestingly, Peter denied Christ three times and after His resurrection, Christ dined with him and asked him the one question three times.

People look at the outward man but God looks deep within the heart. Peter was remorseful for denying Christ. He was broken and dejected but he believed in who Christ was and what His mission was (to reconcile man to God). Peter remained a devout follower of Christ.

Christ looked beyond Peter’s flaws, saw the sincerity of his heart and touched his soul in a measure beyond comprehension. Peter was mandated to ‘feed my sheep’, meaning take up my mantle and accomplish the plan and purpose of your life in directing people towards the Kingdom of God.

We acknowledge this same Peter as one of the key founding fathers of the early church after Jesus ascension to heaven. Peter experienced the miracle of a regenerate heart.

Brokenness is not a bad thing after all. It makes us a better person as it connects us to our Creator in an intimate way, which has to be experienced to be understood.

Are you a broken person? I am, and that is why I am fully reliant on God for each waking moment. I hope and pray my writing inspires you and touches a deep chord within your soul.

Do you fulfil criteria one? Broken works best! ◊

Linda Pearl