God EncountersSample

God Encounters Await the Broken...

In the Old Testament, God’s instructions to the Israelites for making the altar of sacrifice was clear: 

Do not use cut stones (Exodus 20:25).

In the New Covenant, our heart is the altar that God is most interested in. 

Sadly, in pursuing God somewhere down the line we have allowed the world to cut and shape our altars (hearts). We have lived lives of compromise trying to ‘fit in’ our society, friends circle, and ‘church setting’. And then, we wonder why the fire of God is not falling on our sacrifices? 

God has designed our hearts in such a way that our hearts will automatically be sensitive to whatever we spend our time with. There are so many people who have a desire to get close to the Lord but they are not ready to check the time they spend with wrong friends, internet, cell phones, television, etc. Beloved, you and I are not called to conform to the world but to be set apart for His glory.

God encounters don't happen by someone laying hands on us or prophesying over us. But God encounters await the broken who realise how messed up we are and how adulterated our motives are.

God encounters happen in our brokenness and weakness.

We love the Passion Translation for 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. 

It reads this way: 

“So, I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a PORTAL to God’s power.”

Our brokenness is a PORTAL to God’s power.

This is not brokenness as the world relates to, but the brokenness of our flesh.

When we say as Paul said – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).

That’s where God encounters happen. 

Oh, how we need brokenness!

Ponder Point

Do we look like the world so much that the people around us in our workplace, school, colleges can’t distinguish us as disciples of Jesus? 

Check: What are the things (dressed stones) that have been taking your time & remove them from your altar.