The song, “Loving My Jesus,” by Casting Crowns has a line in the lyrics that says the “Truth that has set me free, is that I’m just a broken man.” What does this mean? How can being a broken man set me free?
In life, as I try my best to be somebody, I inevitably do things that make me question whether or not I’m a good man. I question if I ever will be or can be a good man. As I do things I don’t want to do and am faced with concerns I would rather avoid, depression and anxiety tend to kick in.1
What if, instead of trying to prove to myself and to others that I’m a good man, I could accept and believe that I’m nothing but a broken man? And because I’m broken, bad things will happen to me and because of me? What if knowing I am broken releases me from my expectations of being a good man? What would that mean?
The question is often asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Jesus said, “No one is good - except God alone.”2 So why do we try so hard to prove we ARE good? A better question would be, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” What if, instead of trying to prove I’m good, I can recognize how I’m broken and that anything that’s good in me, and anything good I do, is solely by the mercy and grace of God? I’m starting to feel the freedom of simply abiding in Jesus and not having to prove anything to anybody. There is so much to marvel at in all the good God does in, through, and for me.
Could this be the point where I’m finally free? Free to just be me, and to rest in Jesus. Knowing, in faith, that by His promises I will see the good things come that I couldn’t do on my own. What if all the good you see in me is simply the work of Jesus? And the bad you see, well that’s just me struggling in the areas Jesus hasn’t fixed yet, trying to prove to myself and to you that I’m good.
The truth is I am a broken man who is saved by faith in the Lord Jesus. The only thing good in me is His Holy Spirit. As I learn to believe this truth, I choose to submit to His presence, His leading, and His process of making me more like Him. Only then will I start to see me becoming who it is I try so hard to be.
Will you recognize you too are broken? Will you choose to surrender and submit to the only one who can make you become who you so desire to be? That’s the person He created you to be. 3
Call out to Jesus now. If you need help to do that, check out AIM’s page about faith in Christ - https://www.allinmen.org/trust-in-christ. My email address is there.
Peace and joy my friends.
Kevin Weston 12-9–2020
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1. Romans 7:18 (NIV) For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
2. Mark 10:18 (NIV) "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.”
3. Philippians 1:6 (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.