Today, we explore the theme of transformation in our lives, encapsulated in the concept of being "Broken Made Whole." As we approach Easter, we reflect on the importance of acknowledging our brokenness during Lent and the joy that awaits us afterward. This episode emphasizes that through our struggles, we can find a deeper beauty and purpose, much like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, highlighting its cracks rather than hiding them. We discuss how God uses our pain and experiences to mold us into something more beautiful than we were before. Ultimately, we encourage you to embrace this journey, trusting in the resurrection power that lies ahead.
Takeaways:
The core message of this episode emphasizes that joy can follow brokenness in our lives.
Through Lent, we engage in self-examination, which lays the groundwork for spiritual growth.
The concept of Kintsugi illustrates how our brokenness can be transformed into beauty.
Fulton Sheen's quote highlights the necessity of experiencing sorrow before finding joy.
We must press on toward our spiritual goals, focusing on the resurrection power of Christ.
Ultimately, we are encouraged to embrace our brokenness as part of our faith journey.
Hi. Welcome to the Hobo Soul podcast of road advice from the Bible. And from me, Yvon Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life.
I'll talk to you every weekday for about five to 10 minutes, with periodic longer talks on serious Saturdays. Let's get started with our topic today
Speaker B:
Which is episode number 37, Broken Made Whole.
We've done a lot of sad introspection during this time of Lent, but the end point of all of it is rejoicing that comes on Easter Sunday.
For the Christian and the Christian life no matter how broken things might seem, there's always joy ahead.
Our quote for today is from Fulton Sheen, who said,
"Unless there's a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday. Our challenge is if you've taken it seriously, Lent has hopefully been one long Good Friday of self examination, discipline, and spiritual growth.
Now is the time to look back and record the process you've made and rejoice that Easter is coming."
Let me talk about this a little bit more as we close out this time of Lent.
I'm reminded of the verse, " Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning."
The alternating of sadness and joy is a pattern in much of our lives.
And though we certainly don't like the times of sadness, sometimes joy wouldn't be possible without them.
The death of Jesus and the horrors that he suffered not only on the cross, but in the betrayal and abandonment of his friends for reasons we cannot comprehend, were in some way essential for our salvation. Even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asked if there could possibly be another way, and God said no.
We might cry and scream and ask if there is another way for God to accomplish something in our lives that may be incredibly painful now. And often God says no. We need to go through it before the resurrection comes.
And because of the pain, the final result has a beauty that wouldn't have been possible before the pain. A visual illustration of this is the Japanese art of Kintsugi. This is where broken pottery is mended using a joining material that's made of gold.
The cracks are still visible in the restored pottery, but they're filled with gold. Easter makes this possible.
In our lives, God can take the broken pieces of hopes and dreams, no matter how scattered they might be, and use his love as the glue to join them together to make our lives into something far more beautiful than they were before they were broken in little and big ways.
We're all Kintsugi people, broken, yet put together for the glory of God. Once God does that trust He will hold you together and give you a new vision as you move forward into your life after Easter.
In its resurrection power, the Apostle Paul encourages us to grasp this power of Jesus and move ahead, because beyond Lent and into the rest of our lives. With these words,
"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death so that one way or another, I will experience the resurrection from the dead. I don't mean to say that I've already achieved these things or that I've already reached perfection.
I press ahead to possess that perfection for which Jesus Christ has first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I've not achieved it. But I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
So, in closing for these Lenten devotions, press on to the life Jesus has called you to live.
Be a kintsugi Christian, one who might be broken, but mended by gold. And remember in all the trials that you go through that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more.
Speaker C:
To help you learn to know, trust,Apply and teach the Bible, go to www.bible805.com.
For now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.
May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real.
Speaker B:
Presence of Jesus who will walk with you until you're no more a hollow soul, no more a transient, wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.
