The Unveiling
Jesus began His public ministry by calling His followers to repent and believe. Just three short years later, upon a cross as He breathed His last breath, He paid the price for all of those times we fell short of His first calling. His call to repent and be changed and His death on a cross have a huge meaning in our personal lives and today they have a special and symbolic meaning for 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries.
I am so excited to tell you about the UNVEILING of the new and improved format for 4th Day Letters. But first let’s look at the need for an unveiling in our own life.
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15
At the hour of Jesus’ death our sins were nailed to the cross with Him but something else happened too- the veil of the sanctuary was torn open. “And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” Matthew 27:51-52
We know that Jesus’ death paid the price for our sins but unfortunately most of us still have recurring sin and hidden brokenness in our life and we just can’t seem to let go of it. Is our brokenness hidden behind a veil? Maybe during this Easter Season it is time for us to tear our own veil in two, and allow others to see us as we really are; people with wounds, sin and brokenness in our life. When our veil is opened, and the light of Christ is allowed to shine into the darkness, true healing can finally begin.
Speaking of being broken, this past week I read the story of the beggar sitting at the gate in Acts 3:1-10. This man was wounded by life itself. His pain was real. Day after day he sat there, brought low by his illness, and forced to beg for help just to stay alive. Maybe we are all beggars in our own right. Although our wounded condition might not be a contorted body, we can still be brought low by the issues in our life.
What happened next is critically important. The beggar was not healed by Peter, but rather, he was healed by Jesus through Peter. God often chooses to manifest Himself through one person, in order to heal the wounds in another person.
“Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.” Acts 3:7-8
The beggar had an advantage over us. You see, everyone could see his plight. It was easy for Peter to spot the man’s difficult situation. In a sense, you could say that this man’s brokenness was unveiled and easy to see. Peter might have walked right by the man if his broken condition was not so readily apparent.
Is God putting other people in our life each day so that through them He can heal us of our wounded and broken condition? This brings up a few more questions. If we keep our wounded, sinful and broken conditioned well veiled will anyone even recognize that we need help? If they do recognize our need for help, will our pride or shame prevent us from allowing them to be Christ to us? Can we become like the beggar and allow others to see us as we are? This is why as Christians we have been called to live out our life in Christian community in the first place. Christ works through others if we allow Him to.
It is okay to admit we have struggles. We are not alone. Other people have struggles too. Jesus can heal the wounds that no one else can, but this healing often comes about when we encounter Christ in others. We never know on any given day who Christ might work through to reach us. I am sure the beggar was not expecting a healing from Peter but he still received one.
There is a correlated point here. Peter, like us, was also a broken man. He had not only denied Christ but he also struggled with his impetuous temper. Despite these short comings, God chose him as the rock on which the church was to be founded and He worked miracles through Peter even though he was a broken man. He might be ready to work a miracle in someone’s life through us today if we will just give Him a chance.
Today as we open the veil on the new combined Broken Door Ministries/ 4th Day Letter website, I am encouraging you to begin your own unveiling so that your healing and new change can begin.
I am so excited about our all new 4th Day Letter format which allows you to share your comments not only with me but with other readers. I highly encourage you to share your thoughts each week about what I have written.
Another new feature is the ability to find past 4th Day Letters easier than before. You can search by date or topic now. Additionally, a big change is the ease of inviting me to come and speak at your church or Christian gathering. Finally, you can now order the book, THE BROKEN DOOR, right here on our website. Let me know how you like the changes by sending me an email.
Perhaps today can be an unveiling not only for the website but for each one of us. May God bless you all!
Dear Heavenly Father, on the day of your Son’s death when the curtain in the temple was torn in two, the earth quaked, rocks were split, and tombs were opened. Help me this day to tear open the curtains that I hide behind in my life, split my rocky heart and open any tomb that I have created whereby I am dead to your love and healing grace, amen.
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Love the comments section. Yet to explore the site in detail
Thanks again!
I will be looking forward each week to read the comments. God bless!
The website is great! Congratulations and thank you for making it easier for web access and sharing. This week’s letter hit home and brought me hope….Maybe I will start letting others see more of exactly who I am?!? Your closing prayer tied things together very well.
Peace be with you!
Jake:
Thanks for posting. I am delighted that you like the new format. As for letting others see you as you are, just pray to God for His guidance as to when and how to do your UNVEILING.
I really like the new format Dad! Keep up the great work!
Tom:
Thanks for writing and for your kind words. Stay strong in your Faith and love of Jesus Chrisr, and know that you are always in my prayers.
My first time reading your very well written website….Thank-you. I look forward to reading more…..You have given me a desire to make changes in my life.
Yvette:
Welcome to 4th Day Letters and thank you for writing your post. I am glad that you found something helpful for you. May God bless you.
Please tell others in your country about Broken Door Ministries.
Brian, great stuff on the UNVEILING, not only with the website but also with regards to our personal lines. I wholeheartedly am aware and believe that moving from darkness to light is a sure path to healing. When “circumstances” make that movement EXTREMELY difficult, then our path to healing perhaps needs to somehow “adapt” to developing a new path. The adaptation to this, and for that matter any spiritual journey, cannot be accomplished without the working of God’s grace. Therein lies the core of our earthly “struggles”. Grace IS available EVERY moment of our lives, and we are given the freedom to ask for it. If only I had the courage to unceasingly employ it in my life.
Psalm 51 tells us that God will not scorn a humble and contrite heart. We know Jesus came to save the lost, yet for some reason….pride being one of the biggest…..we just don’t want to admit we have brokenness in our life. We just need to trust in God more and be honest.
Brian,
Thank You!
Much to think, pray & ponder on. I read 4th day letter on my break it is now late afternoon. I mused on the veil lifting for the rest of my shift. This took me to these thoughts. God is always calling us back to a closer walk with Him. Can I look at my brokenness as gift & a way for Jesus to reveal His love to me. A common term used in my Hospice work is as a person nears deaths the veil is lifting. When the veil lifts the person lives between two worlds this one and the next. Many interesting things are often shared during those moments when heaven is touching earth. My father saw the Blessed Mother bring Jesus down the stairs to him. In all this your letter challenges me to stay the coarse to continue to share my story to face the inner self. I would rather do it now than to wait until the end of my life.
Michael:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your story. When we allow others to see us as we are, with our sins, flaws and brokenness, we give them the chance to share the love of Christ with us and so doing often our healing begins. May God always be near to you.
I like what you said that the man was not healed by Peter but by Jesus through Peter. How many opportunities people miss by not letting God use them the way Peter did here. We all have so many excuses why someone else would be a better choice and each time we are telling God he is not good enough or faith is so week.
DeAnne:
The Bible gives us a long history of God working though some very broken people like David and Paul. That should give us hope that He can work through us no matter what our brokenness might be. We must just be willing to answer that call. God bless!
Brian, as usual I receive so much from your 4th Day Letters. They have brought me back to our Lord. I know we are all beggars and sinners and you have with your beautiful letters opened the door to allow Christ in, because I was lost. Thank you and may God continue to bless you.
Mary, thanks for sharing. May God always be near to you on your spiritual journey.
Dear Brian:
Getting to know you the past few years, first in our Cursillo small group, and then in a leadership role in our Parish as we put on five retreats focusing on our new Mission and brokenness, has been a huge inspiration for me. Looking in the mirror and being real and transparent, facing our brokenness, and being liberated by giving it to the Lord, has freed up countless individuals in our Parish. God bless you and your wonderful ministries!
Doug: Thank you for your very kind remarks. As you know our parish mission includes the phrase, “to seek the lost and broken and bring them home.” Here at Broken Door Ministries that is clearly part of our goal too. To start we must all realize and accept that we too are lost and broken. God bless!
Thank you for the ongoing encouragement Brian. Like a lame man, I can often feel Jesus’ is healing touch through your gentle insights.
BTW, this new format is a big improvement.
Mark: Thank you for your kind words. I am delighted you like the new format.
That’s a great word Brian. Rarely do we allow ourselves to be seen as the beggar; wounded, broken and in need of the light of Christ. Our pride is such a destructive trait, and I appreciate how you’ve challenged us to remain real, and reveal our struggles to those who care enough to encourage us. God bless you brother!
Kevin, thank you for your reply. You are so right about the destructive trait of pride.
As usual I get so much from your 4th day letters. DeColores, Bob
Bob, thank you for those kind words.