Grace for the Broken
Grace for the Broken
The Lord of Hosts says this: Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. (Zech. 7:9)
Monica tried to focus on the worship leader and think about the lyrics of the hymn, but her eyes continued to stray to the woman at the end of the pew. Monica was certain some of the men around her were also struggling to keep their eyes off the exotic redhead with a plunging neckline, tight, hip-hugging pants, and too much makeup who was swaying to the music. Monica looked at her husband and rolled her eyes.
At the altar call Monica made her way to the front to pray with those who came forward. To her surprise the redhead walked up to her with tears rolling down her cheeks. Monica swallowed hard and took her hand. As she prayed with this new believer and heard about the pain of her father’s abandonment, her alcoholic mother, and abuse from her mother’s lovers, Monica wept with shame and compassion. This woman needed Jesus’ love, not her judgment.
The people who offend us the most are sometimes the most broken and wounded, but often our first reaction is to regard them with disapproval and judgment. The Pharisees did this too when a sinful woman interrupted their dinner with Jesus to cry and anoint His feet with oil. They condemned her, but Jesus had compassion. He saw her heart, not merely her outward looks and actions (Luke 7:36-48).
When someone provokes us, God would have us look beneath the outward offense to the person’s heart and pray for them, knowing they are in a battle common to us all. We are all sinful creatures, needing God’s forgiveness and grace to find victory over the brokenness in our lives. The next time someone offends you, give them grace just as Jesus would.