“Heartaches, broken pieces, ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.”

Hymn: “I Will Serve Thee” – Bill & Gloria Gaither
Tune: SERVING

Jesus didn’t come to heal the healthy or to lift up those who already walked upright. He didn’t come to mend unbroken lives. According to him, seeking out and saving the lost ones was his mission. (Luke 19:10) While many of us appear to have it all “together,” we may be heartbroken, our lives shattered to the point of ruin.

We have a lot of Fiestaware at our house… all different colors. The baker’s rack in our kitchen is one of the most cheerful places in the house. Over the years we’ve broken lots of pieces – they’ve literally fallen off the shelf or been dropped onto the ceramic tiled floor. In the garage, we have those pieces in a box marked “Broken Fiesta.” We fully intend to do something artsy with them and turn them into mosaic masterpieces! We plan to redeem those broken pieces and make them useful… even beautiful… again.

We sang this Gaither chorus in worship last Sunday morning, and from the choir loft when the words “broken pieces” came out of my mouth, I thought about that box in the garage.

Jesus is about his Father’s business of collecting shattered lives and making them useful and beautiful again… even those whose very existence may seem to be in ruins like the Roman Forum or the Athenian Acropolis – weathered with time, toppled over, with no apparent benefit to themselves or others.

Artists and craftsmen are constantly finding the seemingly worthless items and creatively turning them into worthwhile objets d’art. Repairmen are taking long idle appliances – overhauling them, making adjustments – restoring them to usefulness. And so is Jesus.

When we look back at all the mending that has happened in our lives, we never have to wonder WHY God sent his only begotten Son. We are simply glad he did.


The Hoppers Sing This Song