Seriously…We Are Lacking AND YET…
The human condition is seriously lacking, and we get broken in our hearts because of it. Without God, we are not good people, and we can be cruel, horrifically cruel, as the human condition starts running downhill, there is no stopping it. We are reminded of this during the Lent Season, as we look behind and see what human beings are capable of, as we see our Savior, Jesus, hanging on a cross, innocent, yet condemned. So, this is why we can end up in a heap on the floor, broken in heart, crying out to God, sobbing in tears of pain, from the heart cruelty that the human condition is so capable of inflicting. Yes, apart from God, we human beings are not good. AND YET… He is good as He loves us exactly where He finds us.
Jeremiah 31:2-7 ‘This is the way God put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You’ll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. Raise cheers! Sing praises. Say, ‘God has saved his people… Romans 8:13-14 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. 14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Cruelty Happens AND YET…
In A Cruel World… We Question: Do We Matter? And YET…Sometimes this world is cruel and it breaks our heart in ways that can’t be fixed. People hurt us, like we never thought we would ever be hurt. Cruelty, betrayal by a person who we thought loved us. Lent Reminds us of Jesus, of His betrayal with a kiss by a beloved disciple. AND YET…Jesus Saved Us from the hurt of people who disappoint us, as He teaches us that they can’t meet our needs, only He can. People may say they want to be your friend, but that friendship never blossoms because they are busy, way too busy. You are not a priority to them, just a nice thought of friendship, that never becomes an action on their part, which makes you feel: I don’t matter. Ever felt that way? I have, many, many times. The enemy of our soul loves for us to feel that way and uses cruelty to do so. But the truth is, no human being can meet our needs. When my head says: I don’t matter. This is just a feeling, it is not the truth. AND YET… we do matter, we matter to the ONE WHO matters most. AND YET…He proved that by His Grand Gesture of Love, His Cross Of Calvary. He came here to us, to die for us, so we could live with Him forever. We Matter!
1 Peter 2:22-23 He never sinned and he never spoke deceitfully. 23 When he was verbally abused, he did not return with an insult; when he suffered, he would not threaten retaliation. Jesus faithfully entrusted himself into the hands of God, who judges righteously. Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:34 While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, As the centurion crushed him to the ground and tied his arms to the crossbeam, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” When the spikes tore through each quivering palm, he prayed again, “Father, forgive them.” And when the soldiers parted his garments and gambled for the seamless robe, again Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Only heaven knows how many times he uttered that prayer: “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Cruelty Breaks Hearts AND YET…
Our hearts breaks, from the cruelty of human beings, with a human condition that misjudges, misunderstands, and is deceived into walking away in betrayal as Judas did to Jesus. When people hurt you in cruel ways, by betrayal, by conditional love, by selling you out and leaving you behind, it may not be a fixable heart break, we may have to live with the suffering like Jesus did while He walked this earth, yes, just like Jesus, we may have to live with the heart ache of human beings not loving well. Jesus did say if we wanted to be alive with Him, we would have to share in His suffering, from here to there until forever and AND YET…we find ourselves embracing the reality of truth that Jesus, He went to prepare for us, a place, a place without suffering, a home without heart break. Listen Up To This 1 Minute Encouragement On The Danger Of Cruelty:
1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 2:20-21 For what merit is it to endure mistreatment for wrongdoing? Yet if you are mistreated when you do what is right, and you faithfully endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 In fact, you were called to live this way, because Christ also suffered in your place, leaving you his example for you to follow. John 14: 1-4 “Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also. My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you. And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.
Cruelty AND YET…Not The Final Say
A human being can’t fix a broken heart, because human beings just have no help for us, the human condition keeps us disappointing each other, hurting each other, loving each other conditionally, and not loving each other well. Human beings can’t meet our all our needs, this is a fact we all learn the hard way. We were created to need God. BUT STILL, AND YET… this Lent season, we are reminded of the ONE Who was wounded by humanity in such a violent and cruel way, marred beyond recognition, He suffered much and died for us. Cruelty ROARED in all of its ugliness, AND YET… Jesus met our need, in the middle of His greatest human need, He stayed the course, He stayed on mission, and met our greatest need. Jesus ushered in from human cruelty the greatest transformation ever to be known by mankind, from death to life… the final say.
Luke 22:63 “The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.” – Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” ‘Matthew 28:2-7 Suddenly, the earth shook violently beneath their feet as the angel of the Yahweh descended from heaven. Lightning flashed around him and his robe was dazzling white! The guards were stunned and terrified—lying motionless like dead men. Then the angel walked up to the tomb, rolled away the stone, and sat on top of it! 5 The women were breathless and terrified, until the angel said to them, “There’s no reason to be afraid. I know you’re here looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here—he has risen victoriously just as he said! Come inside the tomb and see the place where our Lord was lying, then run and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead!
Cruelty Destroys Humanity AND YET…
The King, the Creator of such humanity, endured suffering at their human hands. YET… He said: Father Forgive Them, They Know Not What They Do. We beat Him, we mocked Him, we spit at him, we lashed out at Him violently, putting stripes on His back, we wounded Him beyond what we ever thought capable. Our human condition goes farther than we could ever imagine when it is deceived by evil. Jesus knew, He knew, and He counted the cost and paid it. AND YET… and even in His deepest agony, He was still reaching for the lost… AND YET…This Is How Love Wins! Listen up:
Matthew 26:38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Luke 22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”
Cruelty The Worst Condition AND YET…
AND YET…this Savior, Jesus Christ, He went to the cross for us, we wounded Him and He bled into the middle of our wounds and even in the expression of our worse human condition against Him, He still wanted us, just like we had never hurt Him, just like we had never wounded Him, He died for us, to save us. There is no greater love than this, our Savior, Jesus Who loves us well. When you feel like you matter to no one, take heart, you matter to the ONE Who, the only ONE Who, can meet your every need. You Matter To Jesus, so treat those who wound you the same as He treated those who wounded Him, because this is how the love of God wins. Listen Up To This 1 Minute Encouragement Video:
1 Peter 4:1-2 Since Christ, though innocent, suffered in his flesh for you, now you also must be a prepared soldier, having the same mind-set, for whoever has died in his body is done with sin. So live the rest of your earthly life no longer concerned with human desires but consumed with what brings pleasure to God. ‘1 Peter 4:8 Above all, constantly echo God’s intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
AND YET… We Love Like Jesus Loved
The unconditional, merciful, grace…of Jesus, our Redeemer. How do we love like that? Even though we don’t deserve this kind of love, we are somebody He still wants, even when no one else wants us, because we are not good enough to be a priority to them, because busy or not, if someone truly loves you, they make time for you, they communicate, they stay in fellowship with you. We matter to God, we are His priority. He still cares and He still speaks, loves and does for us… Yes, He loves us… finding us right where we are, and embracing us, saying: I Am Right Here, With You, For You. I love you right where you are at, even in your suffering. God is saying to us, in the face of evil, do something good. Jesus went to the cross and that was so very good, and it defeated the enemy. To defeat evil you don’t become like the enemy. The Word Says It Best: Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good. Romans 12:21
Romans 5:3-4 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” 1 Peter 2:21 “To this, you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.”
AND YET… In Christ, We Turn From Evil
How can we turn away from a love such as this, we need Him more than anything as we navigate a world where people serve no power higher than narcissistic self power, and they are cruel, so very cruel… AND YET… there He is, Jesus, offering us the mercy, grace, and love we don’t deserve. Our best position when we feel crushed in spirit, broken in heart, and disillusioned in soul, is bowed before our God in complete surrender to His Will, praying for His help, and being equipped by His Holy Spirit to fight the good fight of faith.
Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Philippians 3:10-11 And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death. 11 Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with him in his resurrection from the realm of death. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 Timothy, you are God’s man, so run from all these errors. Instead, chase after true holiness, justice, faithfulness, love, hope, and tender humility. 12 So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before the multitude of witnesses!
AND YET…You Love Me As You Find Me
Jesus, finds us, meets us right where we are at and loves us in that way of His healing, delivering us from the intention of our enemy, who broke our heart. Jesus gives us the strength and courage to step into a new day, as we surrender our broken heart into His care. People may leave you, but Jesus never will. People may judge you as wanting and as “not wanted” but Jesus never will, His love is good and overflowing with unconditional love, grace, and mercy. We matter to Him. We don’t deserve this kind of love, AND YET…He still showed it and still shows it by being with us, and finishing well with us. We share in His life and we also share in His suffering, but not alone, AND YET… He is here, with us, for us.
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Thank you for stopping into The Worship Spotlight table in The Bridegroom’s Cafe. Christian Music has a lot to say, or is it that God has a lot to say! We hope you were blessed by this God Exhortation: And Yet. God bless you Much! KimberlyMac.PS… please subscribe to our website by email. This really helps us to get the Word of God out. We appreciate it. And while you are in the subscribing mood, please go to our Rumble Channel and https://rumble.com/c/KimberlyMac and follow our Channel. Thank you! Appreciate It! You will love the 1 Minute Encouragement Videos.