CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

HEARTBREAKER…

8/13/2021

 
I’m often asked how I like being “retired”.  My usual jovial response is that I never realized that I would be spending the first year of my retirement getting ready to retire - which is exactly what I have been doing!

From selling our home and relocating to getting a new metal storage building built to drying in the existing garage, the past year has been filled with a succession of steps moving toward an ultimate goal that is only now coming to fruition.

As I write this, I am finally in the process of turning that existing garage into what can effectively be called “my space”.  Some might see it as a “man cave”, and others, perhaps, as a “library”. I prefer to call it my “writing laboratory”, as that will ultimately be the purpose for which it will exist.

Now that it has been dried in, sheet rocked, painted, floored, and shelved, I am finally to the point where I can retrieve my books and related items and unbox them.  Trust me, doing so is like becoming reacquainted with old friends who have not been seen since the spring of last year when they were first boxed up and put into storage.

As I have been unboxing these varied items, I have come across more than one surprise.  But none of them can compare with what happened earlier today.  I opened a box labeled “Office Decorations” and found a statue of Jesus.  To my sorrow, its arm was broken.  But the distress I experienced at this discovery was short–lived once I read the note taped to the statue.

That note, in familiar handwriting, said:  “This was already broken when I packed it up. Sorry.”  It was then signed, with love, by my precious wife.  When I showed it to her later in the day, she confessed that she did not even remember having packed the item or having written the note.  We laughed and agreed that before the unboxing was over with, it is likely that many more items will be found to have been broken as well.

As I have studied on the episode, however, I have reached an insightful conclusion.  Granted, neither I, nor my precious wife, may have ever actually broken Jesus’ arm.  But just how many times has either of us ever broken His heart?!

The New Testament Gospel of Luke, chapter 23, verse 61, tells us that just after the Apostle Peter denied Jesus for the third time, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

Wow!  Talk about breaking Jesus’ heart!  Who among us has not read this verse and wondered how Peter could do such a thing?  And yet, who among us has not essentially done pretty much the same thing?!

Oh, sure, we may not have ever actually denied Jesus.  But have we not, by some inappropriate thought, word, or action, broken Jesus’ heart just as surely as if we had denied Him like Peter did?

For my part, I readily confess that I am guilty here.  My wife, as good a person as she is, affirms the same sentiment for herself.  What about you?  Are you just as guilty as the two of us?  If so, don’t talk to either of us about it.  Talk to the One your thoughts, words, or actions have offended.  Talk to Jesus about it!

By the way, the good news is that Jesus later forgave Peter.  John 21:1-17 records how, after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, forgave him, and reinstated him to his position as leader of the Disciples.

What can we learn from this?  We can learn that Jesus knows we, like Peter, are not perfect.  He knows we all fall short.  He knows we are all apt to let Him down from time to down.  More importantly, He is willing to forgive all of us of our shortcomings if we are willing to confess them and attempt to do better.  As the Amplified Version translation of First John, chapter 1, verse 9 puts it: 

“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].”

For my part, I’ll gladly take Him up on this offer!  What about you?  Will you do the same?  If not, just know that His heart will be broken in the process.  And you will be to blame.


SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/luke/22-61.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/21.htm;
https://biblehub.com/1_john/1-9.htm.

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All