A favorite trope of family sitcoms goes something like this: child enters scene, child gets in trouble, mom yells a tried-and-true proverb at child, child storms off, mom’s eyes wide, mom says out loud, “Oh no, I’ve become my mother!” Cue fake audience laughter and cut to commercial. We laugh because we too often experience this very scenario in our own lives or in the lives of our friends. Christians fall into this scenario as well. We blame Eve for cramps during our periods, for disobedient children, for fights with our husbands, for warfare, for poverty, for the brokenness we encounter on a regular basis. Yet, if we take an honest look at ourselves, we would have eaten from the forbidden tree too.
The Eve in Us All
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned,
like mothers, like daughters
Yesterday we discussed the brokenness we inherited from our first parents. And, though we could spend time lambasting their mistakes, we should only do so in rooms with no mirrors. Scripture and our own lives testify to us that we, like Eve, choose to listen to the voice of the liar instead of the voice of God. We not only choose to sin—we enjoy it. Sometimes we even celebrate it, or tweet it, or Instagram it. We then look around us and find others to drag with us to participate in it. We rebel often and with gusto.
fallen nature
When Adam and Eve sinned, they created original sin—a term the church has historically defined as the effects of their first sin. We inherited a fallen nature that changes our appetite toward things God has forbidden. As some would say, “We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.” In other words, we are obedient slaves to sin longing to be set free from this bondage.
are we really that bad?
This truth might be hard to swallow. It seems like a harsh way to view humanity. Yet we scream at those we love the most, we exploit others for our own satisfaction, and we struggle to really love ourselves every day. Instead of thinking this is too low a view of humanity, what if we turned the coin over and realized how great a salvation God offers? Humans who need only a little salvation to stop doing bad things do not need a great God to do so—they need behavior modification. But humans who recognize their utter brokenness know they need a cosmic salvation to not only change their behavior, but to also change their very nature. Eve ate the apple, and now we crave apple pie. We need a gospel that not only helps us put down the apple, but also changes us to no longer desire forbidden fruit.
But humans who recognize their utter brokenness know they need a cosmic salvation to not only change their behavior, but to also change their very nature.
Watch Session One
Created for This
Daily Question
How have you felt the effects of brokenness in your own life? What do you need God to heal in your life?
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While brokenness is difficult to endure, all brokenness bears goodness in our lives. Some of the most difficult times in my life have been the times I have learned something God was trying to teach me. My biggest need from God is to live each day "on fire" for the Lord. To not allow my fleshly personal desires to overcome my Love for Him. Our sinfulness daily takes us off track and I just so wish I was able to overcome that.
I need God to heal my heart and help me realize he is most satisfying. I pray to desire him more than anything else.
I keep doing the things I hate, My short fuse anger, my frustration at my kids disobedience. Leaves me feeling like a total failure.
I have a short temper with my kids, and a small fuse for my husband. I wish people cared about me like I care about them. And i do not LOVE myself enough.
I always fall short of doing the things I should, and often times end up doing this i regret.
Unresolved anger and the need to forgive. To remove my pride and give me the strength to humbly accept my weakness so I can turn to Him for my strength.
Amen!
I need to be obedient to his word setting aside time to pray and listen in quietness…praying continually throughout each day as he brings things, people to mind and being thankful for the relationship I have with God and wanting it for others. Our God is so good!! I am so thankful for his unending love!
We always need God to heal something. I will always need him. My brokenness is not showing my children enough of God and the Gospel while they were growing up to know him and now I want to share this with them as adults and it is more difficult. I do feel guilt and broken over this but I will continually pray.
I would say continued forgiveness and love without any expectations. Jesus says in Mattthew 18:21
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
I’ve gone through many seasons of dealing with my feelings vs biblical truth and what the Bible says about this…living this out…Not just a quick fix of behavior yet Jesus as my Lord and Savior and how I do desperately need His strength to replace my weaknesses. Keeping my eyes on Jesus no matter what circumstances maybe…
My brokenness is a distant memory that plays like a movie reel in my mind, When something triggers it. God has always been there with me and through it. It is not me or made my story. It just is. I have forgiven and healed from it. I however have a constant fear for my children. I protect and shelter them quite a bit. I realized I was reflecting my brokenness on them without them knowing. God, recently called me out and told me why I fear. I trust him with me, but I don’t fully trust him with them. It pains me to think that I have a mistrust with God. I can see it now. He is healing the deep brokenness inside I never knew was there. Everyday I’m praying and giving them to God. Each day He is taking my fear, little by little. Than the world shows its face and my fear kicks in stronger. Unfortunately, sometimes those are the days I fight Him the most. He has been showing me He’s there in little ways, whether I chose to acknowledge Him or not.
I have so much brokenness that steams from my past. I grew up with so much pain from childhood, from parents that choose sin (drugs and alcohol) over really showing love for me and my siblings. I see this play out in my family because I have not healed from it and my go to is over reacting when anger takes a hold (like my parents/though not as harsh) or over protecting and not trust God will protect my children because I did not feel I was protected as a child. Looking back I can see God in my childhood, but I still have not healed. It breaks me that I still have a hard time talking about this with God. I can tell others, but I still hide it like shame from the one who truly loves me and accepts every part of me.