Hope For The Broken And Contrite Heart

"Today's Devotion" For March 30, 2006

Read: Psalm 51; Matthew 11:28-30

HOPE FOR THE BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)

In recent days, the Congress has been debating the issue of "illegal immigration." Of course, those who feel they're the primary targets are people who are originally from the Southern Hemisphere of the Americas. We're told that there are somewhere between 11 and 12 million such immigrants who are in the United States illegally. Great concern has been registered in some quarters about the stress and strain such numbers put on social support systems which provide assistance to the poor (of which many of these folks are). As with any situation involving people "problems" there are myriad opinions and proposed solutions. It's a situation and set of concerns that are not going to go away.

As I've observed the response of various groups of people to this pending legislation, one thing has become quite clear. For the most part it appears that the vast majority of those who fall under the classification of "illegal immigrant," don't believe they've done anything wrong. The laws of the land, prohibiting such immigration appear to be inconsequential to them. This seems quite obvious from the demonstrations against the legislation by those who aren't even citizens of the United States, waving flags from on of their home countries and declaring their "allegiance" to that country - while all the while receiving benefits from this country. It strikes me as being quite arrogant and certainly not contrite.

I only use the above example because it so clearly demonstrates one of the things that is so prevalent in all of us (this is not a political discussion on the pros and cons of immigration reform legislation). We human beings don't like to be told we're wrong, we don't like to be told we can't do something, and we don't like to be faced with the just consequences of our sinful behavior. We'll make excuses that such and such a law is wrong, especially if it suits our opinion or selfish desire. We'll defend ourselves as the sole purveyors of truth, even when the opposite reality is staring us in the face. Too often, instead of accepting our need for repentance and contrition over our sins, we instead seek to justify our behavior, trivialize the laws we've broken, and do whatever we can to mitigate the consequences of our sins by shifting the blame to others.

King David was no stranger to such behavior himself. He had disobeyed God by having Uriah the Hittite killed in battle while having an adulterous affair with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. She became pregnant; Uriah was killed; David took her as a new wife. From the account of Scripture, David exhibited no remorse, no guilt, and no contrition. That is, until the prophet Nathan called him on the carpet. Psalm 51 is the response of a sinner with a broken spirit, standing before God with a broken and contrite heart, acknowledging his sins and seeking God's forgiveness. David understood the full ramifications of his sins and accepted them (cf. 2 Samuel 12) as the just punishment and discipline of God for his disobedience. Psalm 51 not only acknowledges his sins before God, but proclaims the grace, mercy, and love of God toward those who repent.

Our world is not a place where people willingly and regularly stand before God with "broken and contrite" hearts. Yet, as those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, standing before our Father in heaven with broken and contrite hearts on a daily basis is essential. We need His forgiveness every moment of the day, even as we face the very real consequences of our sinful behavior as well as that of the world around us. Rather than being overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, God calls us in Christ to face our sinfulness with confident trust in His love and forgiveness. By His grace we stand cleansed of our sins before Him and empowered by His love to live for Him and share Jesus with others. Arrogance has no part in the lives of God's people; a humble and loving spirit motivated by God's love in Jesus accomplishes a whole lot more.

Prayer: Father, having a broken and contrite heart isn't something I want to deal with in my daily life. It's all too true that I think more highly of myself than I really ought to think, as You have reminded me through the Apostle Paul. When my sins and my disobedience to You are pointed out - and breaking the law of the land is just as much disobedience to You as lying, cheating, and stealing - I'm all too inclined to wave them away and discount the seriousness of my behavior to my relationship with You and others. Father, for the sake of Jesus, I ask Your forgiveness. Fill me with the power of Your Word and Spirit so that I might always have a "broken and contrite heart" before You - putting aside the arrogance of Sin and standing before You with a humble spirit willing to hear and obey Your Will. Lead me to live my life humbly and graciously so that I might be a living and loving witness to the world of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus; in whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.