The handle of our white plastic laundry basket broke, and the container became unusable. My wife asked if I could fix it.
As handyman husbands go, I am surely below average. But I am thrilled when I can resurrect nonfunctioning household items and make them work again.
Back to the laundry basket. I went with my usual duct tape strategy. It worked—for a while. Then the handle broke again. I employed more duct tape applied differently.
I also instructed my wife to carry it with the broken handle toward her with the basket on her hip. Is that cheating? The basket’s handles broke again.
God fixes broken and broken-hearted people. He fixes people far better than I repair laundry baskets. He transforms individuals from living for themselves and naturally doing wrong (by His definition) to doing good and serving others sacrificially with joy.
Let’s focus first on God’s fixing morally and spiritually broken people. We usually ignore the elephant of sin in the room. We are morally and spiritually bankrupt but don’t know it.
We follow our sinful impulses as a bloodhound follows a scent trail. It’s natural. We are unaware of how thoroughly our ways offend a holy God.
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that….” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NLT).
Let’s linger over the hope-inspiring words the Apostle Paul wrote, “Some of you were once like that.” The clear implication is they weren’t anymore.
Galatians 5 further describes how morally, and spiritually broken people live. Their sinful natures are the GPS that consistently leads them to ungodly behavioral destinations.
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19–21 NLT).
Broken people live “that sort of life.” Often, it breaks their health (Psalm 38:3). Breaking God’s laws breaks them. That sort of life is a purposeless existence. God offers something better (John 10:10).
The Holy Spirit captains the ship of those God rescues and transforms. The Spirit produces Jesus-like character traits in their lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). It would be marvelous if the transformation occurred instantly. But that is not how it happens.
Gabby Thomas won the Olympic 200-meter gold medal in 2024. She spent six years preparing for that race. Six years is an eyeblink in spiritual development time.
We become more Jesus-like at an excruciatingly slow pace. It is harder than winning Olympic gold. We must persevere through many dark valleys while we work on it and God works on our broken places (Romans 8:29). God’s once-upon-a-broken-heart ending is supernatural.
God not only fixes broken people, but He also fixes broken hearts. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18 NLT). “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NLT). Jesus came to comfort the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1). When our hearts break, He is where to turn.
One day God will add our bodies to the fix-it lists along with our broken souls, spirits, and hearts. “Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength” (1 Corinthians 15:43 NLT).
Do you know the first step in becoming like Jesus? We must acknowledge our brokenness and want God’s wholeness. “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:17 NLT). #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 7,139 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness
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