Broken hearts, broken dreams, broken lives…brokenness. Everywhere we look, we can see brokenness in the lives of those we love and those we do not even know. Some brokenness has entered these lives by poor, personal choices. Mistakes made…chart a course leading to the fractured life before you. Other times, the shattered life is a result of illness, accidents or others situations beyond any human control. Each life is a mosaic of the fragments that remain having been reconstructed into some semblance of life. Through Christ, however, we can find wholeness despite our broken parts and be used by him.
In John chapter 5, Jesus asks a man who had a lame and broken body for 38 years this question. “Wilt thou be made whole?” (v. 6 KJV) At this question, he shares the reasons why he has never entered the pool waters to find healing. He does not have someone to put him in the pool or when he does, others cut in front of him. Jesus commands him to “rise, take up your bed, and walk.” Immediately he was made whole; no longer lame or broken. We, too, have a choice and must decide if we are going to follow His commands, allowing us to be made whole again. Excuses are as numerous as the stars. Accepting His commands over our excuses set us on the path to wholeness.
Jesus demonstrates his power by the breaking of the bread and fish for meeting a need in the feeding of the five thousand. After every one ate and was satisfied, Jesus has the disciples collect the broken pieces of bread and fish in baskets. Each disciple collected a basket’s worth, 12 baskets in all. Thousands were fed from two fish and five loaves, but it seems there were more broken pieces left than what they started with. At times, it may seem that Jesus also allows us to be broken to meet needs. When our brokenness has served its purpose, we usually end up with more than we started with too; more wisdom, more understanding, more compassion, more love, more to share. We can share our experiences and the broken parts of our lives. Through these, we connect with others and can encourage them through theirs.
We need to remember Jesus establishes His will on yet another occasion where the brokenness He offered provides a way for us to have relationship with the Father. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24HCSB) His body was broken. For you. For me. He illustrates His coming experience on the cross. Offering to us the ultimate invitation to submit or break our will, bring ourselves under His authority, creating restored fellowship with the Father. Our broken and contrite spirit is the necessary step to ultimately receive love, joy and peace.
Through the miracles we read about in the New Testament, we can see that brokenness leads to some amazing experiences. I am not one to gravitate to or desire brokenness. Yet, it is in my brokenness that Christ can come and make me whole again. Just as Jesus offers this gift to me, He offers it to you. Without accepting it, we never know the power of the miracle.
Christ is building His kingdom with earth’s broken things. (J.R. Miller)
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