When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Luke 5:8, 10.
We come to him broken—in heart, mind, and soul. Sin leaves us in such a state. We’re mere pieces of what a whole man or woman should be. Nothing fits, nothing can fix us.
No thing can, but someone can; his name is Jesus.
The amazing thing about being able to give him the pieces is that it’s the only way we recognize our need for him. The glue of this world and the empty promises of man do nothing to hold us together. Jesus is more than willing to pick up the pieces because it’s the broken soul who makes the greatest impact for the Kingdom.
We are made whole for all eternity in the moment we fall on our knees proclaiming as did Simon, “Lord, I’m a sinful man!” Yet, as long as we continue to live in our earthly shell, we are still working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Our salvation is not in jeopardy, but our effectiveness is, and thus requires continual confession and a handing over of the pieces to him.
Hanging on to pride keeps me from serving others. Hanging on to possessions keeps me from meeting another’s need. Hanging on to earthly sources of security keeps me from risking all for Jesus.
Ruth Stull of Peru once said:
If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a loaf will satisfy only a little lad.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Passion and Purity: Bring Your Love Life Under Jesus Christ’s Control (USA: Elisabeth Elliot, 1984). Quoting Ruth Stull of Peru.
Turn the bits and pieces, good and bad, over to Jesus. Don’t let the world pull apart what God has joined together in Christ.
What part of you have you tried to take back from Jesus? Are you wholly his yet? Let him take the broken pieces and use them for his purposes alone.
Grace and Peace