“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. …For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:6,10 NIV).
Do you ever feel powerless to restore broken relationships? Many of us do. As we continue on life’s journey many of us have left quite a trail of lost lovers and forgotten friends.
After a while, a real sense of lonliness and failure tends to overtake us. Any hope of happiness eventually becomes victim to our growing sense of anger and bitterness at our relational reality. We become depressed.
Some years ago I read a book that discussed how relationships have a direct affect on those who suffer from depression. The book was written by Dr. Minirth and Dr. Meier and was titled: Happiness Is a Choice. They noted that most of their patients who suffered from clinical depression had a combination of the following factors:
- Pent up or unresolved anger
- Lack of self-worth
- Lack of intimacy with others
- Lack of intimacy with God
The authors went on to say that they believed that the Bible offered real answers to these four factors. They suggested that the great commandment which says that we should “love God and love our neighbor as ourselves,” is the best medicine for one suffering from depression because it puts them in right relationship with themselves, with others and with God.
I agree. But I have noticed that just telling someone that they “should” start loving God, loving themselves and loving others always falls short. People are powerless to do what God’s Word says absent His power to accomplish it.
I don’t want to misrepresent Minirth and Meier’s book. It’s a classic book that is very insightful and helpful. But I am becoming increasingly aware of how inadequate it is to just tell people to do what God’s Word says. If we could just follow the written instructions of God’s Word, we wouldn’t need God’s Son.
Our problem is that not only are we struggling with the four factors listed above, but we are “powerless” to do anything about it! We need more than good advice, we need someone to empower us to follow it.
That’s why Jesus died for our justification and was risen for our reconciliation. He alone can restore us to God, to ourselves, and to others.
The resurrection power of Christ is available to restore our broken relationships.
Amen, Pastor Gary!! I was reading an excerpt of N.T. Wright’s book, “Following Jesus: Biblical Refletions on Discipleship”. In the 2nd chapter Wright tells us “the battle has been won”. And, that the “power of the bleeding love of God is stronger than the power Caesar, of the law,..” and in your example, the power of broken relationships on our lives. Check it out! Scroll to the 2nd chapter.
http://books.google.com/books?id=u1Vp-_y8Ya8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=falseof