Broken Hearts and Broken Bonds
Scripture Reading — Luke 4:14-30
“The Spirit of the Lord … has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
—Luke 4:18
One morning as I was riding my bike on a trail in Hawaii overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the Holy Spirit put a song on my lips.
I was going through a difficult time, and we were in the process of a move. After three years, we were leaving Hawaii and our work there to return to New Jersey. My family had to process the move, which caused some tears and anger. In addition, the Spirit had convicted me of my sin of pride, self-righteousness, and judging, which I brought to the cross. In tears, I sang these words: “Thy power alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break.” My situation and sin can only be solved by Christ alone. I found myself broken and continued to sing, “’Tis he that saveth me and freely pardon gives; I love because he loveth me, I live because he lives.” I found myself at the cross.
Jesus’ mission “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and … to set the oppressed free” was at work that morning. As I trusted in him to break my bondage and navigate through my uncertain future, a peace came over me.
Have you experienced that kind of peace? If so, did you also have to experience a broken spirit that took you back to the cross? It’s the best place to be!
Lord Jesus, thank you for paying the price of sin at the cross. You bore all my sin and shame, and you shared your love and grace. Thank you, Son of God. In your name, Amen.
About the author — John Kuperus
Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.
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