Grace in Its Various Forms

Dear God seekers, 

We often think of grace as just the kind which saves you. But Peter the apostle wrote that there are various forms of God’s grace. He said: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.” (1Pe 4:10). 

Various Forms of Grace

Let’s take a look at the various forms of God’s grace mentioned in Scripture, which are twelve in number.

1. Saving grace: Grace to justify sinners through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ (Eph 2:5, 7-8; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:7).

2. Serving grace: Grace for gospel work; grace to be a servant of the gospel and to call people to the obedience of faith; grace to serve (1Pe 4:10; Rom 1:5; 15:15-16; 2 Co 1:12; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:2, 7-8; 4:7, 11-12; 2 Tim 2:1).

Foundation-building grace: Grace to build wisely in God’s kingdom (1 Co 3:10). This is basically a type of serving grace.

3. Speaking grace: Grace to speak for God graciously and powerfully, whether publicly or privately, whether in person or on video (Rom 12:3; Col 4:6).

4. Writing grace: Grace to write for the Lord in whatever manner the Holy Spirit leads (eg., books, booklets, articles, letters, tracts, blogs, etc.), in a way that effectively communicates the gospel, as well as any biblical truth found in Scripture (Rom 12:3; 15:15).

5. Grace for godliness: Grace to say no to ungodliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives (Tit 2:11-12).

6. Existential grace: Grace to be who God has called you to be in Christ. We are who we are by the grace of God (1 Co 15:10; Gal 1:15).

7. Grace of giving: Grace to give generously to others (2 Co 8:1-4, 7-9).

8. Suffering grace: Grace to endure suffering, hardship, and even to die for the Lord (2 Co 12:9; Heb 2:9).

9. Strengthening grace: Grace that strengthens your heart (Heb 13:9).

10. Charismatic grace or the grace of gifts: Grace to operate God’s gifts (Rom 12:6).

11. Glorifying grace: Grace that enables the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be glorified in you and you to be glorified in Him (2 Thes 1:12).

12. Helping grace: Grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16).

Putting it All Together

I hope this has helped to demonstrate that there are many various forms of God's grace, not just saving grace. In fact, there are at least twelve forms of God's grace mentioned in Scripture, including saving grace, serving grace, foundation-building grace, speaking grace, writing grace, grace for godliness, existential grace, the grace of giving, suffering grace, strengthening grace, charismatic grace, glorifying grace, and helping grace. 

These affect not only our spiritual condition or position before God, but are very functional and practical forms of grace that enable us to put the Word of God into practice and to do the good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). Once we come to know the Lord as one of His genuine disciples, He gives us these various kinds of grace at different times, often in answer to our prayers. so that we might be not only a hearer of the Word, but a doer of it as well (Js 1:22-24).

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. 

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Costly Grace, Amazing Grace, By Grace Alone, Grace Mercy and Peace, Being Blessable, The Blessing of Abraham, and The Afflictions of the Righteous, You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Fiery Sufferings of the Believer

I am reading through T.L. Osborne’s book, Healing the Sick.  It’s excellent! Although he has recently gone to be with the Lord in Febraury, he saw tens of thousands of people healed in every corner of the earth, during his sixty-five years of ministry.  I absolutely agree with most of what he says, including that it is always God's will to heal us.  You can read more on that in my other post called, "Healing is in the Atonement."

However, he says that suffering is never from God.  I can perhaps accept that sickness is never from God when His children are obedient.  But the Scriptures have much to say about the role of suffering in the life of God’s children.

In the Bible, there are two kinds of suffering, as I see it.  One is suffering for sin and the other is suffering for righteousness. 

Suffering for Sin
Let’s begin with suffering for sin.  The Israelites are a good example of this kind of suffering.  When they sinned, they suffered.  But it was always redemptive.  The Lord was seeking to bring them back to Himself.

The Bible does teach us that God does sometimes try us in the fire, refine us like silver, and that’s painful.  “For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.” (Psa 66:10-12).

In this Psalm, it even says the Lord laid an oppressive burden upon their loins.  God made men ride over their heads.  He put them through fire and water.  But look at what He did in the end ultimately – He brought them into a place of abundance. 

The only time you need to refine silver is when there are still impurities in it.  You only use this process to remove dross.  It would not be used on silver that is already purified.  So when we need more purification in our lives, the Lord uses the fire to remove the impurities. This comes in the form of painful sufferings.

I think that disobedience can surely bring sickness into the life of a believer (see Micah 6:12-13), which is one kind of suffering.  The way this happens is that when we walk in disobedience to the Lord, we open a door to the enemy and give him a right to get a foothold in our lives.  When the enemy comes in, he can and usually does bring sickness, pain, or disease.  The demons want to gain control of your soul ultimately, but they begin by getting into the body at first.  Satan always comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

In Deut 28:15-68 you can read how the Lord told the Israelites that they would experiences disease and hardship if they rebelled against Him.  You may be thinking that Jesus became a curse for us, and we are free from every curse, according to Galatians 3:13.  You are correct, but when a child of God walks in rebellion or idolatry, they come out from under that protective covering of Christ’s atonement.

There are plenty of practical examples in life.  One is alcoholism, which causes liver disease.  Another is tobacco addiction, which causes lung disease and other sicknesses.  Addiction to injected narcotics leads to disease that enter through the blood, such as AIDS, hepatitis, and others.  Gluttony leads to obesity and its related diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.  The list of examples goes on and on, and there are too many to cite.  The consequences of sin are serious and you cannot escape them if you walk in rebellion or idolatry.

The fact is that even when you're sick or in pain as a result of your own sin, the Lord still desires to heal you.  It's not His will to leave you like that. He wants you whole once again. 

Here is another example from the lives of the Israelites: 

At the end of Is 42 it says, “But this is a people plundered and despoiled; All of them are trapped in caves, Or are hidden away in prisons; They have become a prey with none to deliver them, And a spoil, with none to say, "Give them back!" Who among you will give ear to this? Who will give heed and listen hereafter? Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they were not willing to walk, And whose law they did not obey? So He poured out on him the heat of His anger And the fierceness of battle; And it set him aflame all around, Yet he did not recognize it; And it burned him, but he paid no attention.” (Isa 42:22-25)

From this passage we learn two things: it was the Lord who gave Jacob up for spoil and Israel to plunderers.  And He did this because they had sinned against Him.  They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and did not obey His commands.

This might cause a person to wonder if the Lord still loved them, or whether He still cared about them.  Was He finished with them and seeking to destroy them?

Immediately after this it says, “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. "Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made." (Isa 43:1-7)

This clearly shows the Lord’s redemptive purpose in suffering.  He says to them, I have redeemed you.  Although they have sinned greatly against Him, He says, “You are precious in My sight, and I love you.”  And He calls them His own. He calls them His sons and daughters.  He promised that though they would go through the fire, they would not be scorched, nor would the flames burn them.  And though they would go through the waters, He would be with them.  He said that when they would go through the rivers, they would not overflow His people.

The Lord promised that although it was necessary for them to be purged, ultimately He would get them back for Himself.  That’s the same way the Lord works under the New Covenant.  When we sin against Him and refuse to walk in His ways or obey His commands, He will refine us in the fire.  He will give us up for spoil to the plunderers.  How could He let the enemy do such things to His chosen people?  How could He lay such an oppressive burden on us, and let the enemy ride over our backs?  Is this a loving God?

Yes, He is loving in all His ways.  In the end, He brings us into a place of abundance.  He knows what He is doing!  The question is whether we know what we are doing.  And do we know what He is doing in all this when it is happening to us?  Or do we panic and think the Lord has forgotten us? Are we surprised by the fiery trials?

The apostle Peter says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” (1Pe 4:12-13)

From Peter we learn that fiery ordeals do come upon the saints of God for our testing.  It’s the will of God.  Being saved is not easy.  It’s a difficult thing.  When we have impurities in our lives, the Lord will burn them up. He will bring judgment to His house, not to destroy us, but to purify us, so we may be saved.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1Pe 4:17-19)

Peter says it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved.  The judgment of God begins now with the household of God. The only way through it is to entrust your soul to the faithful Creator and do what is right.

In all of this, we know that Christ has suffered for sin, but not His own.  He has suffered for our sins. 

Peter says, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1Pe 2:21-24)

Christ suffered for you.  And He bore your sins in His body on the cross.  The Lord has made a way for us to be saved, as well as healed.  We don’t have to earn our salvation. But we do need to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ, according to His example.  That includes dying to sin and living for righteousness.  If you refuse to do that, then you reject the sufferings of Christ for your sin, and you must suffer for your own sin.  If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the sinful nature, you will live.  But if you live to please the sinful nature, you will reap destruction.

Suffering for Righteousness
I said there are two kinds of suffering in life, and I have just explained the first one, which is suffering for sin.  Now we’ll discuss suffering for righteousness.

Peter called this "suffering unjustly" or "suffering for doing what is right," and taught that we find favor with God when we patiently endure it.

“For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” (1Pe 2:19-20)

If you are going through some kind of suffering for your own sin, and you endure it, there is no credit in that.  You just need to repent and let the Lord have His perfect way in you.  Let Him use the fire to purge and purify you. And if you are sick, you need to call upon the elders of the church to anoint you with oil and pray for you, according to James 5:14.  And if you have sinned, you will be forgiven, according to James 5:15.

On the other hand, there is suffering for the sake of righteousness.  This happens when you do right and suffer for it.  Perhaps you refuse to do unethical things or immoral things that your employer wants you to do. You may lose your job and suffer financially for it.  Likewise, you might refuse to take such a job in the first place, if you know in advance what it will require.  In that case, you may also suffer through a longer period of unemployment and financial difficulty.  But the Lord will see this and be pleased.  He will bless you in the end, and give you something even better than what you would have had, if you had followed the ways of the world.  This has been my experience in life.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to suffer.  That’s what the Scriptures say.  Peter said, “You have been called for this purpose.” (1 Pe 2:21).  He was referring to doing what is right and suffering for it, then patiently enduring it (see 1 Pe 2:20).  That’s the purpose for which you and I have been called.  The problem today is that many preachers have taken the cross out of the gospel; however, there is a cross for every disciple.

The apostle Paul said, “For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Php 1:29-30)

Paul did not run from suffering, but embraced it.  He had lost everything for Christ and considered knowing Christ of greater value than anything else, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;"  (Php 3:10; also see 1Th. 2:9; 2Ti. 2:3, 2:9; 3:12; and 4:5)

Paul said, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Act 14:22). 

The Lord told the church in Smyrna, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev 2:10).  And I believe the Lord would say the same to us today.  Do not fear suffering!  We have nothing to fear, if God is for us. Rather, rejoice that you suffer for Christ (see Mt 5:11-12).  If this message frightens you, then meditate on Rom 8:28; 1 Pe 5:7; Is 26:3; and Psa 56:3-4.

A preacher named Paul Gabanek, who suffered much for Christ under communism, said in his autobiography, Ministry of the Holy Spirit in My Life: "If we have love of Jesus, nobody can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38 to 39). Yes, God is with us in every situation of life. We need the love of Jesus Christ. Without His love we cannot suffer, we cannot bear tribulations or temptations."

Brother Gabanek stated: "In those last days of my imprisonment they put me in a disciplinary cell for eight days. It was a little room like a tomb in underground. Only a little of light came in. The guard took me down and locked the iron gate. As I lifted my eyes in prayer I had a vision: I saw Jesus Christ with His apostles at the table eating and drinking at the last supper. And immediately I heard Jesus saying to me: 'I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,' (Luke 22:15) and when He was saying: 'before I suffer,' He looked at me. I understood Him, but I was not sorrowful. He suffered much more for us than we can ever suffer for His sake. And our suffering for Him is blessed, because it is for righteousness’ sake. His suffering for us was much harder, because it was for our sins. (1 Peter 3:14)"

Now I am in total agreement with T.L. Osborne regarding the fact that God is not going to send sickness into the life of an obedient believer to refine the person (see Exodus 15:26).  I believe that healing is in the atonement and that we should stand on God’s promises about that.  But there are many other types of suffering that you may have to endure as an obedient believer.  Among these may be persecution and conflict, hardship and difficulty, beatings and imprisonment, troubles and distress, sleepless nights and wrecks, and a host of other possibilities like Paul endured (see 2 Co 6:3-10).  You cannot always make these go away.  And the Lord will use them to further refine you, just as Peter taught. 

Even those who obey the gospel still need to be purified.  There is not one of us who doesn’t need some work of purification in our lives.  We serve a holy God, and He has called us to be holy as He is holy.  We serve a perfect God, and He’s called us to be perfect as He is perfect.  We need to seek His righteousness, pursue holiness, and aim for perfection.  Seek peace and pursue it.  Pray for the holy fire to purify you from everything that will not pass through the fire as purely from God.

For, "The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” (1Pe 3:10-11)

Peter also said, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” (1Pe 4:1).  Suffering in the flesh does bring you to a place where you cease from sin.

Even the archangel Gabriel told the prophet Daniel, "Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.” (Dan 11:33-35)

This is not about bad people being punished.  It’s about those with insight and understanding falling by the sword and being burned to death.  It’s about righteous people being taken captive and plundered for an extended period of time.  The purpose for it is to refine, purge, and make them pure until the end time.

You see, this is the end time.  We are about to witness the return of Christ.  And the Scripture says “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” (Eph 5:27)  He is going to present to Himself the church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing – one that is holy and blameless.

So let’s not be surprised at the fiery trials that come upon us. “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” (1Pe 4:13-16)

Putting it All Together
There are basically two kinds of suffering.  One is suffering for sin.  Everyone who sins suffers for it, unless they repent and accept the suffering of Jesus Christ that He suffered for their sin in their place.  Even believers in Christ can suffer for sin, if they walk in rebellion or idolatry.  This could be sickness, disease, pain, financial distress, imprisonment, or a host of other possibilities.  But the purpose is always redemptive.  Though the Lord sends these things upon us, He promises that we will not be destroyed by them. The Lord is always seeking to bring us back to Himself into a place of righteousness, peace, abundance and joy.

The other kind of suffering is for the sake of righteousness.  It’s when you suffer for doing what is right, and that’s unjust suffering.  The Lord is not going to send sickness upon His obedient servant, so we can be sure of that.  I will concede that Job was the most righteous man on earth in his day, and yet he still suffered more than most of us ever have. But consider how God blessed him in the end.

We need to stand on the promises of Deuteronomy 28: 1-14; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24; Ps 103:1-3 and James 5:14-15. We need to walk in the perfect health He has paid for on our behalf.  But there are a host of other things that can happen to a righteous believer, and we cannot possibly list them all here.  That could include dishonor, evil reports, being regarded as a deceiver or imposter, being punished, seeming to be poor or having nothing, imprisonment, captivity, sword, flame, and even dying. So let's not forget that or remove it from the gospel.

This message is not intended to frighten you.  Do not fear suffering, but trust the Lord through it and rejoice that you share in His sufferings.

I close with the words of the apostle Peter, “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1Pe 4:17-19)

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note:  If you know a believer going through fiery sufferings, please share this article with them.  If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Holy Fire Baptism, The Afflictions of the Righteous, The Burning Ones, The Three Elijahs, The Refiner's Fire, Only the Holy -- Three Shocking Testimonies, Holy Living in a Perverted World, and Aim for Perfection. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

_________________________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Beauty of Brokenness

Most people don’t like broken things. We prefer things that are whole. That’s why most people don’t go out and buy things that are broken, like broken cars, windows, or bicycles. It’s safe to say that most people don’t relish the thought of being broken themselves either.

Experiences that break us are not pleasant but painful, hurtful, or frustrating. We often wish these situations would just go away. But can we avoid being broken as disciples of Christ? Is this something only for a few people, while all the rest of us can live a life of ease, free from brokenness? It’s important to know the answers, and there’s a lot that God has to say in His Word about this to provide us with the answers.

All Creation Groans
Perhaps one of the best descriptions of this process is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans. He wrote: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Rom 8:18-21) Here we learn that the creation was subjected to futility. And this was not something creation willingly volunteered for. So who was responsible for this? God was. Paul said it was because of Him who subjected it. But why was this futility necessary anyway? It’s because the creation itself is in slavery to corruption, and God wants to set it free from that slavery. When it’s set free, the creation experiences the freedom of the glory of God’s children.

This process is not easy. In fact, we know that creation has been groaning through this process like a woman in the pains of childbirth. So it’s clear that this is something God is allowing creation to go through and it’s painful.

We Ourselves Groan
Then to be certain that we don’t think this is all about non-human creation like the earth, the animals, and the environment, he goes on to say this: “And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Rom 8:23). Paul leaves no question at all about the fact that we disciples of Christ are going through this same process. He uses repetition to emphasize it saying, “But also we ourselves…even we ourselves.” So what is it we’re going through? Well, as with the creation, God has subjected us to some frustrating experiences, and this is not willingly. This process causes us to groan within ourselves. Usually this word groaning is used of the sounds made by dying men. Isn’t that what we are? We are going through a dying process, and inside ourselves we groan. Why is all this futility necessary? Well, like the rest of creation, we were in slavery to corruption, and God wants to set us free from that slavery. When we’re set free, the creation experiences the freedom of the glory of God’s children.


As with creation, the process is not easy for us, but painful. Yet it’s the only way to experience the glorious freedom God intends for His children.

Someone will ask how born again believers could still be in slavery to corruption when the Scriptures teach we are no longer slaves to sin. When we come to Christ, He does set us free from slavery to sin, no doubt about it. But the process is both instant and progressive. We experience something right away that is real, it’s powerful, and it’s life changing. But then the process we experience afterward involves a further being set free from slavery. We’re still waiting for something that hasn’t happened yet. It’s our adoption as sons. It’s the redemption of our body. We haven’t seen this take place yet, so we’re still waiting for it. And until it does, we go through these frustrating experiences that cause us to groan. “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Rom 8:24-25) The Lord has wonderful things in store for His children. But it takes perseverance on our part and it requires that we wait eagerly for it to happen.

Brokenness Releases a Beautiful Fragrance
There was a woman that was a sinner who came to Jesus with an alabaster box or vial full of very expensive perfume. She broke the box and poured the perfume on Jesus head and feet out of love for him. When she did this, the fragrance filled the room. Some of the disciples were indignant and complained about this, saying it was a waste of good perfume. They only saw the money that could have been made by selling the unbroken box of perfume, saying that the money from the sale of the perfume could have been given to the poor. Jesus responded saying that his disciples would always have the poor with them, and they could do good to the poor anytime. But they would not always have Him among them. He said that what she did was good, and she was actually anointing his body beforehand for the burial. (Mark 14:3-9)

This is a great illustration of brokenness, isn't it? This woman literally broke a box of perfume that was worth a lot to her, so that she could bless the Lord and minister to Him. If she had not broken the jar, the lovely fragrance would not have come forth. Others could only see the value of the box while it was whole. But Jesus saw the value of it when it was broken. That's the way our lives are, too. Many can only see how they could be valuable if they were whole, but the Lord appreciates the love and beautiful fragrance that flows from our lives when we are broken.

Jesus once said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." (Joh 12:24-25). In order for any seed to bear fruit, it has to go down beneath the clods of earth into that dark place and die. Its hard outer shell has to crack open, so that the life that God has placed within it can come forth and break through the soil to bear fruit. That's the way our lives are, too.

Twentieth century Chinese author Watchman Nee wrote: "The Lord longs to find a way to bless the world through those who belong to Him. Brokenness is the way of blessing, the way of fragrance, the way of fruitfulness, but it is also a path sprinkled with blood. Yes, there is blood from many wounds." (The Release of the Spirit, p. 13). Are you willing to be broken, so that the fragrance and fruitfulness may come forth?

He Who Falls on This Stone Will Be Broken
Jesus Himself said that He is the Chief Cornerstone, "And he who falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." (Mat 21:44). So there are two kinds of people in life. There are those who reject the Stone and it falls on them. And then there are those who fall on this Stone and build their lives on it. The Stone falls on those who reject it, and it smashes them into fine dust. As Solomon wrote: “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.” (Pro 29:1). On the other hand, those who fall on the Stone are broken to pieces. When we put our trust in Jesus, it breaks us. But I’d rather be broken to pieces by Him than be scattered like dust.

King David went through many experiences that brought about brokenness in him. Some of these breaking experiences were a result of his own sin, like when he sinned with Bathsheba. Afterward, there were consequences to live with. For one thing, the baby she became pregnant with died after it was born. And other breaking experiences were the result of things other people did to him. For example, since Saul sought to kill David, he lived as a refugee on the run for many years. And later on after he became king, his own son Absalom usurped the throne. David prayed, “I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.” (Psa 31:12).

Yet David responded well to it. When Nathan the prophet pointed out his sin with Bathsheba to him, he repented before God. He felt like God had broken his bones and he prayed, “Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.” (Psa 51:8). He knew that God was pleased with a broken heart when he prayed, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psa 51:17). At another time of great national loss, when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab killed twelve thousand men of Edom, he prayed, “O God…You have broken us.” (Psa 60:1)

His character grew through the breaking process, and he continued to follow the Lord all the days of his life. We know David as one of the greatest kings of all time.

Job also went through a breaking experience. He lost his children, his health, and his property. And in the midst of it all, he said, “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.” (Job 17:1). But in the end, God restored Job. He had more children later and was richer than he had ever been before he suffered the huge loss.

Don't Run from the Process
Some believers who experience the breaking process run from it. They walk away and go looking in the world for comfort. But the world can’t satisfy them. It never will. Others go looking for spiritual leaders who will tell them what they want to hear. It’s like the prophet Jeremiah said of the false prophets who were greedy for gain, "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.” (Jer 6:14). People like to hear a peaceful message, and many will gather to hear a leader who speaks that way. But it's only superficial help that feels good for the moment. It doesn't address the deeper issues that God wants to deal with.

We know that a true man of God will not preach false peace when God is dealing with people. The prophet Jeremiah saw how the Lord was dealing with his people for worshiping idols, and he mourned over it. He was broken himself to see this happen to them. "Harvest is past, summer is ended, And we are not saved." For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken; I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?” (Jer 8:20-22). Like Jeremiah, we sometimes feel like we’ve waited for a long time, and we’re not delivered from the situation causing so much grief.

We need to know that the Lord doesn’t just break us and leave us. He helps us and heals us. “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” (Psa 147:3) While it may be painful, the Lord is not far away at all, but near to the broken: “The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psa 34:17-19).

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote about our present sufferings and the pain it brings. We covered this here already. Yet he went on to assure us that God will not forsake us. He will not abandon us in the midst of our suffering. Paul wrote about the way God always works things out. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28). So when we’re going through a breaking experience, we need to hold onto this promise, knowing the Lord will work all these things together for good.

Who Shall Separate Us from the Love Of Christ?
When we go through breaking experiences, we may wonder if God loves us. We might pray, “God, don’t you care what I’m going through?” But whatever may happen to us, we can be sure that God still loves us. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom 8:31-35).

That’s a great question: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Here’s the answer: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39).

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ going through a breaking process right now, take heart. Be encouraged. Jesus loves you and will work this all out for good. You are in good company with people like David and Job. In fact, every believer who puts his trust in Jesus will be broken. It’s not optional. God wants us to experience complete and glorious freedom from slavery and corruption. That's the beauty of brokenness. Remember, Jesus said, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.’”(Luk 9:23-24). So it’s a daily thing where we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. He said, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Mat 10:38).

If you are not a disciple of Jesus and you are not building your life on the Rock, then you need to know He loves you and wants a personal relationship with you. The one thing standing in the way is your sin, and we’ve all sinned. Jesus has taken care of that by dying on the cross for you and paying the price for your sins, so you don’t have to. He has risen from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit and sits at God's right hand.

It all begins by falling on the Stone
It all begins by falling on the Stone, Jesus Christ. Humbly and sincerely repent of your sins before Him, and ask His forgiveness. He will forgive you. And then surrender yourself to Him and invite him to come and live inside your heart. The life you’ve always dreamed of lies in this thing you dread. What are you waiting for? There’s nothing to dread. Your other option is to remain stiff-necked until the day you die, and ultimately be scattered like dust by the Stone. But now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

I hope this has helped you, whether you are a mature believer or a new one, to see the beauty of brokenness.

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Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available through the links in the side bar. You may also access my blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.