Rob Armstrong's Blog

His name is Wendell. Wendell is a constantly recovering addict who lives on the street and plays a mean rhythm guitar. When I met Wendell last week his life was broken and so was his guitar. He didn’t know where he was going next and he didn’t know how to fix his guitar. As I sat with Wendell I was overwhelmed at the reality that I am broken too. I saw in Wendell the truth of God’s grace. As we became friends God impressed again the truth of the gospel on my heart. We are all sinners who are broken and in need of God’s grace. We are all trying to figure out where we are supposed to go and we are all hopelessly trying to fix our lives with our own efforts. But, unlike me in this moment, Wendell understood God’s grace. He was and still is fully aware that he cannot do this on his own. He trusts daily for God to supply his every need and admits that it is a struggle to trust in the faithfulness of God. But, he speaks with wisdom when he says he is glad that God does not depend on his faithfulness. He has sinned much and is currently struggling to get life right and follow God in faithful obedience. Me too, I have sinned much and I too struggle in the flesh daily to follow God in faithful obedience. Praise God for the truth of His word!

“But God demonstrated his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Wendell doesn’t have to get it right for God to bestow His grace through Christ to him. We cannot earn the grace of God, it has been given through God’s demonstration of his love for us. I know I can’t, and I am eternally grateful for the love of God displayed through Christ.

Father, I pray that today you continue to remind us of all of our need for Christ. I pray that you sustain us with your grace, through your word, and by your Spirit. Watch over Wendell today and supply the needs of your servant in the city of New Orleans. Amen.