Perspective:-
BROKENNESS: THE BASIS FOR BLESSINGS
Brokenness has been one of the prerequisites for divine favor and blessings whether in the Old Testament or in the New. More than external religious rituals, God looks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit before He can graciously forgive and restore us (Psa. 34:18; 147:3; Isa 57:15; 66:2).
Take any godly person whom God used mightily in the past, one unique feature about them is that they were all broken at some point in time. Without this internal spiritual experience, no one can fully enjoy God’s presence or be fruitful for the Lord.
THE MEANING
What is brokenness in the biblical point of view? We can consider at least three different aspects of brokenness.
a. Man-made brokenness
Broken lives and relationships basically are the result of man’s sin. Everybody faces such breakdowns in one way or another. It may be due to our own sinful words or deeds (James 1:14, 15).
Of course, even in such circumstances if we approach the Lord God Almighty acknowledging our helplessness, He will help and transform our lives.
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Outline:-
“BROKENNESS AT THE BROOK” (GENESIS 32)
In Jacob's story as the name suggests, we see a younger brother deceiving his elder brother, a younger son deceiving his father, a wife deceiving her husband, a mother deceiving her elder son, and later Father-in-law deceiving his Son-in-law, a Younger Sister (Rachel) deceived by elder sister (Leah) and later daughter (Rachel) deceived her father and also Son-in-law deceived Father-in-law (Gen. 39:20).
But God’s intention is to change ‘Jacob’ to ‘Israel.’ But before entering into a spiritual blessing, he must be broken. He was broken at the brook of Jabbok and was later blessed. We can outline this experience from Genesis chapter 32 as follows: (JA’KOB’ AT JA’BOK’)
1. Bothered Man vv. 2-8; he was intimidated
2. Bowed Man vv. 9-12; he was dependent on God. A ‘supplanter’ became ‘suppliant’
3. Bribed Man vv.13-18; he was crafty
4. Bitter Man vv. 19,20; he was left alone
5. Boundary Man v.22; he alone crossed the brook. He was isolated.
6. Broken Man vv.24-28; he was incapacitated; God is interested not in his bones, but his self-will
7. Better Man vv. 29; he was interrogated and repented
8. Blessed Man v.29; he got the true blessing
9. Bright Man v.32; the sun of righteousness illuminated him.
Even today, God is using the same principles. No one likes broken pieces. But, Our Lord transforms brokenness into blessedness. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17).
Whenever in the scripture brokenness happens, we see blessings such as ‘Cleft Rock’ (Exo. 33), ‘Broken pots’ (Judges 7), ‘Broken heart’ (Psalm 51), ‘Broken bread’ (John 6), ‘Broken Spikenard’ (John 12), and ‘Broken seals’ (Rev. 5).
Bro. David Manchala, Hyderabad
Anecdote: -
The Art of Kintsugi
Kintsugi is a unique Japanese method of joining broken cutlery with precious metals. According to the story, one of the 15th century military rulers sent a tea bowl to China for repair. But when they sent it back after repair, he was not satisfied with the finishing.
Then the ruler asked a local craftsman to find a better method to join the broken cutlery. The result is Kintsugi - using precious metals like gold they bond together broken pieces of pottery. Thus, the cracks in the broken vessel become more visible, yet the vessel becomes stronger and more beautiful!
Many find it a powerful metaphor that teaches the beauty of imperfections and brokenness.
— NTK
Exhortation: -
Value and Desire Brokenness
Brokenness – the word in itself does not sound very comfortable. Usually, when things in our houses break, we no longer value them. We throw away the broken pieces and replace the broken item with a new one.
Even in the corporate world, whenever there is a job vacancy, the lookout is for the brightest among the candidates who apply. No one generally prefers to hire someone less than the best even though we all agree that nobody is perfect.
In most situations, we tend to obtain and acquire what is perfect and flawless, though we live in a very imperfect world. But, praise be to our God! He specializes in treasuring broken people, Psalms 34:18; 51:17.
Why does God value brokenness so much?
God had created us perfect, but when mankind rebelled against God, we all became sinners (Rom. 5:19), and with sin came all the imperfections in us. Because of sin, even our righteous works are like filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). We became unusable for God. Nevertheless,
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Tom Jacob, Mumbai
Study: -
What Repentance Is Not...
The crux of the message which Lord Jesus preached is, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). What does it mean to repent?
A word so familiar, yet so often misunderstood! Sometimes, the easier way to understand certain things is when they are explained to us in the negative.
1. Repentance is - not living in rebellion
Cain murdered his own brother (Gen. 4:1-16). When God asked about the whereabouts of his brother, Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Instead of repenting of his sin, he “went out from the presence of the Lord.” He knew his sin, but didn’t want to deal with it. Instead, he wanted to live outside the sphere of where his sin would be judged. He permanently lived his life in rebellion against God. To such obstinate hearts, the scriptures warn, “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain” (Jude 11).
2. Repentance is - not living in refusal
Esau disregarded his birth right (Gen. 27:30-38; Heb. 12:16-17). He traded it for one morsel of bread. But .... >>>More
Aby Kuruvilla, Mumbai
Meditation: -
God Wounds and Binds Up (Job 5:18)
“He breaks, but He binds; He wounds, but His hands heal.” God’s people have always been bruised and wounded; for His desire is to transform them into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:28,29).
1. Job - To prove that he is a faithful servant of God.
God Himself testified about Job, “There is no man on the earth, like my servant Job, blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8).
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Bro. Paulson Joshua, Kochi
Reflections: -
Brokenness vs Rebelliousness
As believers in Christ, we need to understand that our attitude toward God and His word plays a very important part in our spiritual growth. As we read in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” A broken heart is what the Lord wants, since it is tender, malleable and receptive to the will of God!
However, on the other hand, Proverbs 28:13-14 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” A hardened heart is stony, rebellious, and filled with pride and haughtiness.
We, as believers, have to understand the importance of being broken-hearted. Usually, in the world, being broken signifies uselessness, but praise be to our great God for He, in his marvelous grace and His abundant mercy has used broken vessels to be molded and made fit for the Master’s use!
As we consider the two words Brokenness and Rebelliousness, let us look at .... >>>More
Dr. Joel Albert, Aurangabad
Gospel -
THE HEART OF MAN
Each animal can communicate within its own category - dogs communicate with dogs, elephants with elephants. Man is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26,27), allowing him to communicate with God by their conscience. This conscience makes man precious, accountable, and free.
Further, this reveals that man is not the product of evolution but God's special creation. The Bible clearly talks about the heart of man in many instances, revealing its utmost importance.
Importance
A normal understanding of the human heart is that it is the blood pumping organ of the human body.In the Bible, the heart represents the totality of the mind - the centre of our thoughts, imaginations and will (Proverbs 4:23).... More
Joy Murickal Issac, Kerala
Worthy Quotes:-
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