In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:7-10 (ESV)
“When God calls our name, He is calling us not only to find our personal identity, to be who we are created to be, but also to enter into His great enterprise of bringing all things together in Christ. To play our part in healing one small part of the great wound in the heart of a bleeding world.”
—A Life of Listening, A Memoir by Leighton Ford, p. 170.
After reading Leighton Ford’s memoir, I have been unable to get this concept out of my mind—especially the part about me doing my small part in healing the great wound in the heart of a bleeding world.
Woundedness in the heart is like a twenty-eight-car pileup for the emotions—without help it is nearly impossible to untangle the damage and move back into life in normal healthy ways. How tragic when the particular information that is needed to be lifted, inspired and motivated is available but remains inaccessible because of woundedness.
How many people around me are unable to imagine a life different from what they are living? How many people around me are impaired because of damage done to them by others or what they have done to themselves? Jesus looked into wounded hearts—He looked beyond their sins, behind their behavior, beneath their problems. During His time on earth He modeled how to go about healing the great wound in the heart of a bleeding world.
Are people better off or worse off for knowing me? I pray they are more inspired to follow Jesus—more obedient to His Word—more caring about their fellow man. How can I know? Is there any real evidence of healing because of my influence? This is an opportunity to look directly at how I am spending my time and fulfilling my destiny.
O God, You have lavished the riches of Your grace on us. We are the ones toward whom Your love flows and to whom Your blessings are aimed. Help us play our part in Your great enterprise—and faithfully tend the wounded hearts in the world around us.