Essence

"You will not despise a broken and contrite heart, O God," Psalm 51:17.

Dearest God, if you demanded me to give you a big time sacrifice to get your forgiveness, I'd do it. And I'd feel pretty righteous for it. But you don't want that kind of sacrifice. Your pleasure doesn't rest in my handing you pricey stuff. Even if it's very costly to me. You're wanting my stone heart. You're wanting my hard heart. You're wanting to break my heart and transform it from lifeless rock into living essence. From being dead to anything, to being alive to you and to life. That's it. You're wanting me. Me. Not my stuff. You're wanting my very self, my giving up of myself to you. So here, O God, is my sacrifice: my broken spirit; my broken heart; my contrite heart. I've got nothing else. Please don't despise this broken offering. I trust you, for real. And then it's all yours. Repentance. Sky kingdom.

As we consider with a brother or sister today what Jesus did in the sacrifice of his life, we yield our wills, our hearts to God through him. And, together, we give thanks to God for making us living partners in the work of his heavenly kingdom.