Matthew 5:3 (NLT)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
In order to find the hope and healing of Jesus Christ, we must first hit bottom. Some of us even feel like we've broken through the bottom. We hurt and flail so much in the struggle of the human condition that many of us want to die. Some even take their lives into their own hands. But as hard as this pill is to swallow, listen to this. Our bottom, and the excruciating pain accompanying it, is one of the greatest gifts from a loving God. For when we are there, we can witness our powerlessness and weakness. We are able to recognize our need for something, someone greater than ourselves. We see we need a Savior.
Enter Jesus Christ. He is not the Higher Power, but the Most High. Where we see a broken person (or ourself), Jesus sees cracked and frail human pottery waiting to be restored with his healing hands. He has compassion on us, empathizing to the point of remembering his own humanness and longing to reach out in love. And many times, he uses us as his hand and feet, helping the others to see his love.
Jack had come to us a broken man. An out-of-control addict with dozens of rehabs on his resume, he entered the shelter at the lowest point of life. No other guys were in the program at the time so it meant a great deal of one-on-one time. Jesus met Jack that first day. After hearing devastating news, he broke through his bottom and broke down. All the depression. All the addictions. All the feelings of inadequacy and insignificance. All of the scars of a broken home and relationships. All the weight of past sins and failures. All of the strain of the human condition. All the fighting and struggling and clawing to escape the flesh and its cravings. All came crashing down. He cried like a baby in the comforting arms of Major. It was there in that humble, insignificant hallway that Jack not only recognized a need for Christ but fell headlong into his grace. Oh, that we could all feel so much freedom, so much release.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you hit your bottom yet? What will it take for you to hit it?
2. How can hitting bottom be one of the greatest events in your life?
3. Once you've hit bottom, what are the next steps you can take?
