Have you felt that people defined you as broken? Have you experienced the sting of rejection as you saw judgement in their eyes?

There was a man in Acts three who was also defined by what ailed him. The Bible says he had been lame from birth and was carried to the temple to beg every day.

Defined by What Ailed Him

Can you imagine what it was like as people walked right by him, taking for granted the thing he wanted most in life?

Imagine them looking down at him, even stepping over or around him, and how this must have affected the man known as the one lame from birth. They defined him as broken.

But then, everything changed.

Peter and John walked to the temple that day. They didn’t have any money for him, but what they had was the power of Jesus, which would redefine him completely and help him for the rest of his life!

By the power of Jesus Christ, Peter commanded him to rise and walk, then helped the man up. That day, the man known as the one lame from birth entered the temple not just walking, but leaping and praising God (Acts 3:8).

The man could no longer be labeled as the one lame from birth. Jesus changed everyone’s definition of him to the one healed by Jesus Christ.

Do You Feel defined as broken?

Have you felt that you’ve been recognized as the drooping flower? The one who can’t stand up on her own? The one who’s been picked on, broken and abused?

There is a master Gardener, Jesus, who promises that a bruised reed he will not break.

 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice

Isaiah 42:3 NIV

There Is Hope

He will nurture you back to life. He will comfort you. He will encourage you and help you to stand back up, and like the man lame from birth, he will help you walk in places you’ve never walked before.

This very moment, Jesus is reaching out to you, waiting for you to take his hand. He will help you stand back up. He understands completely the pain you’ve been through. Look into his eyes and see the compassion and love for you there.

He’s reaching out.

Will you take His hand?

Prayer 

Father God, I choose to receive you into my life, taking your hand and accepting your help. I pray Father, that through Jesus Christ, you would breathe life back into my emotions, my mind, my soul and my body; that you would change what I have been defined by and redefine me by your touch upon my life. I receive your comfort, your encouragement and love. Wipe away my tears, and Stay with me always, as I learn to walk free in you. In Jesus name, Amen.

In His love,

© Carolyn Rice 2018