The idea of being broken means to separate into parts, usually by some violent act. This causes the broken pieces to have rough, uneven and disconnected edges. We are often crushed, cracked, strained and fractured by events in our life. We feel confused and fearful. We inadvertently injure others because of our own jagged, inner wounds. We have an imperfect life ruined by the ravages of sin. Jesus allowed His own body to be broken and His blood to be spilled out for our eternal healing in body, soul and spirit (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). He came to heal the brokenhearted by the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18).
Even if we are pressed in on
every side by troubles, we are not crushed. We may be disheartened, but not
driven to despair. Our enemies may hunt us down, but God never abandons us.
Even if we are persecuted, it happens so that Christ’s character can be
revealed in us. We share in Christ’s eternal life, even if we also share in His
sufferings (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).
God is always near to the broken hearted and He saves those who are crushed in
Spirit (Psalm 34:18).
Our suffering here on earth
cannot even compare to the unspeakable glory and joy that God will reveal in us
and to us through the power of Christ’s resurrection. He comforts all who mourn
(Matthew
5:4). God requires from us a spirit,
which is humbly broken and contrite (Psalm 51:17). If we fall upon Christ by faith, we may be crushed;
but He will save us. Conversely, those who reject Jesus actually expose
themselves to danger, ultimate ruin and eternal destruction, because the rock
of Christ will fall on them and annihilate them (Luke 20:18; John 3:16-18).
Due to their unbelief, the
Jewish branches were broken off from God’s vine. This allowed the Gentile
Believers to be grafted into Jesus, who is the vine (Romans
11:19; John 15:5). However, God will not
allow the crushed stem to be completely broken or their feeble light to be put
out entirely (Matthew 12:20). After
the times of the Gentiles, when the Bride of Christ is at her wedding feast,
the Jews will receive another chance to accept Jesus as their Savior during the
Great Tribulation period (Romans 11:25; Revelation 7:4). Then together we will rule and reign with Christ for
eternity (2 Timothy 2:12).
It is only after we humbly
recognize our need for our Savior that we call upon Him. He will always answer
us, and show us great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:33). As God does His sanctifying work in us, we slowly
come to a place where we completely surrender our plans for our life and follow
God’s will for us instead. It is then that we wonder why it took us so long to
submit to His unconditional love. In reality, we can do nothing less than offer
our total life, broken and spilled out in our love for Christ. Through this
sacrificial love we will change the world, one life at a time.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, just like the
alabaster jar You allowed Your body to be broken and spilled out for the
salvation of mankind (Matthew 26:7; John 10:18). Through this act of sacrifice, You gave the most
generous, impossible and extravagant gift to the whole world that we can ever
receive - the free gift of salvation through Your blood. You opened the way for us to enter into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews
10:19-22); so that we can worship You
together forever. |
Thought for the Day:
A broken life becomes a
willing servant of the Lord.
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