Book of the Broken
The Bible is full of the life stories of broken people. From Adam and Eve introducing the curse, through the story of Noah and his family, to Abraham’s fear, lying, and disobedience. Jacob was a liar and a deceiver. Joseph was an entitled braggart and the favored son of Jacob. Moses was a murderer and full of fear. David, one of my favorite historical figures, lusted after Bathsheba, lied to his general, ordered her husband to the front where he was killed. David knew what it was to be broken and as a result He was called “a man after God’s heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 and in Acts 13:22). And let’s not forget Jesus’ disciples. Tax collectors, fishermen (think Deadliest Catch), nobodies from the dregs of society. Read the Gospels and you’ll see their brokenness. Peter, John, and James especially.
No matter who you are, what you do, how much wealth you have, what your social status is, or who you know – you’re broken! Yep. It’s true. You’re not perfect! There, now you know. Accept it and let’s move forward. Acceptance is the first step to becoming one of God’s Broken Vessels in His army and His Agents of Restoration.
A Broken World
We’re all broken. And as such, we are in the company of some of the most amazing people who have ever lived. Great heroes, adulterers, murderers, deceivers, betrayers. Disobedient children whose actions lead to the near complete annihilation of humanity and the earth. All broken in some very serious ways, and yet mightily used by God to bring us all to this exact moment in history. A time when so many signs point to the near imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A time when I believe we are on the very cusp of an outpouring of God’s love and Spirit the likes the world has not seen since the crucifixion of Jesus. Take heart my friends and rejoice in your brokenness, for you were born for such a time as this.
Out of all the stories of broken people we read in the Bible, there is one that is the most profound, most encouraging, and most heart-wrenching. This story is synonymous with brokenness. The story is of a man with the name above all other names. A name that invokes images of tortuous pain and devastating suffering, but also of an infinite love and compassion in the face of all He endured. This name shows us that through this brokenness can come out-pouring of such love the likes the world rarely sees. A love that can literally redeem the whole world.
A Broken Savior
If you haven’t figured it out, the name is that of Jesus of Nazareth – the Christ. By far He was and is the greatest man that ever lived. He was beaten and bruised, He was scorned and mocked, and He was lied about and hated. Why? Simply because He came to free us from our sins and those in religious power had a monopoly on sin and getting rich from people who were trapped in it. Sounds like today. Imagine if we were truly free as Jesus sought to make us. Imagine what we could do.
But I digress. Read Luke 22:39-46 for proof of Jesus struggling with His fleshly nature and being broken to God’s will. He knew that the end of His time on earth was coming and that meant an excruciating death. He didn’t want to have to go through it. Luke 22:42, “Father, if thou be willing remove this cup from me.” Verse 44 tells us how intense the anxiety and fear was in Him. He was breaking; submitting that final piece of flesh to the Father’s will no matter the cost to Him.
Agents of Restoration
This brokenness and submission to the Father’s will lead to the greatest outpouring of God’s love and compassion the world has ever seen. Jesus submitted Himself completely to the plan God had designed from the beginning and in doing so brought eternal salvation and freedom from sin to all those who have ever lived, are living, or will ever live. This act of submission from a perfectly broken man redeemed the world. Imagine what God can do with you or I if we would simply submit to the breaking instead of fighting it and give ourselves completely and totally to His will. Can you imagine the world changing power in an army of those broken by God?
Adam and Eve submitted to God and started the Human race. Noah obeyed God even though people mocked and ridiculed him and saved the Human race. Abraham followed the voice of God to a strange land. Even after he did not trust God to provide an heir and did it his way, God still blessed him. Jacob wrestled with God all night after his conniving. God finally broke him, gave him a new name (Identity), and he fathered the sons who would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses ran away and took 40 years to be broken so God could use him to set the Israelites free from Egypt. What can I say about David? There’s so much. Read 1 and 2 Samuel and the Psalms. And there is so much to say about the original 12 disciples. Read the first 8 chapters of Acts.
Pharisee to Apostle
Let’s not forget about Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles. Originally Saul of Tarsus, he was a Pharisee who mercilessly hunted and killed Christians during the days of the early Church. He encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was struck blind while Jesus spoke with him. For three days he sat blind and fasted and prayed as he waited. Jesus visited Ananias in a vision and sent him to help Saul and restore his sight. Understandably, Ananias was not happy about helping the killer of Christians. Jesus answered him, Acts 9:15-16, “Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto Me… For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my names sake. “ The rest of Acts and most of the New Testament describe the breaking and suffering Paul endured. He even died a couple of times. Yet we see the amazing things Jesus was able to do through him because of his surrender to God’s breaking and will.
Now imagine what God can do through you if and when you fully surrender your brokenness and will to Jesus. Imagine the possibilities of healing the sick of heart and body. Or of raising the dead in life as well as those dead in their brokenness. Imagine what Jesus can use you to restore in people’s lives as His Agent of Restoration