2-10-14<\/p>\n
All through the Bible are examples of gifts, sacrifices, and responses that God\u2019s children lay before Him. Tithes, ten per cent of income. First fruits. Rams without blemish. Spotless sheep. Burnt offerings. Service. Penance. Repentance.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to visions in the Book of Revelation, we have the mysterious questions of crowns awarded to certain saints \u2013 not salvation or eternal life, but some rewards in Heaven \u2013 no longer a mystery when we are given the picture of those saints laying down the crowns before the throne of God. From Chapter 4: \u201cThe four and twenty elders fall down before Him who sat on the throne, and worship Him who liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.\u201d<\/p>\n
The beautiful picture of a perfect gift rendered into a perfect offering.<\/p>\n
Indeed, all the instructions to gives thanks and tribute to a Holy God, and the inclinations of our hearts, should be to bring the purest and holiest things we can \u2013 including our souls and our confessions and our best efforts here on earth \u2013 because Holiness demands holiness. It is meet and right so to do.<\/p>\n
But God tolerates one thing that is broken, not whole, and even is soiled. No, He does more than tolerate: He welcomes\u2026 the broken heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have my heart, though it isn’t new,
\nIt’s been used and broken, and only comes in blue,
\nIt’s been down a long road, and it got dirty along the way,
\nIf I give it to you, will you make it clean and wash the shame away?\u201d<\/p>\n
Psalm 51:17 says, \u201cThe sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Continuing wonderful lines from Julie Miller\u2019s \u201cBroken Things\u201d:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have my heart, if you don’t mind broken things,
\nYou can have my life; you don’t mind these tears,
\nWell, I heard that you make old things new, so I give these pieces all to you,
\nIf you want it, you can have my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life is a road with many speed bumps and pot-holes; and, as we read recently in this space, from \u201cThe Pilgrim\u2019s Progress,\u201d many detours and pitfalls. God encourages us to make the journey, to press on, to acquit ourselves well, to have integrity as Christians. As witnesses we should be modest servants, confident soldiers, and shining \u201cImitators of God\u201d (Ephesians 5:1).<\/p>\n
Yet, even wearing white robes, we can be holding shattered, broken, and even soiled hearts in the cup of our hands. God is a Potter; Jesus was a carpenter; the Holy Spirit is the Comforter. A broken heart God will not despise.<\/p>\n
Our Heavenly Father can see the band-aids and paper clips. That we bring broken hearts and even messed-up lives before Him (which we resist doing, in our natures, too often) does not mean we are faulty Christians. We are just\u2026 Christians. Who \u201chave heard that You make old things new.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The lines quoted here are from Julie Miller\u2019s amazing song, \u201cBroken Things.\u201d Here she sings with her husband Buddy Miller. Graphics by the great beanscot.<\/p>\n