Broken Vessels
This week, I'd like for us to examine the fact that God uses broken vessels in order to accomplish His will. In contrast to men, who throw out broken things, God never uses anything without breaking it first. Before we can ever hope to fulfill God's purpose for our life, we must reach a point in our journey where we are stripped of pride and arrogance, where we realize the futility of our own efforts, in other words, we are broken. Until we come to a point where we acknowledge our need for God, and our inability to make it without Him, we will never yield our will. However, once we accept our brokenness, we can begin to be restored and made new.
Earnest Hemingway once said, "We are all broken. That's how the light gets in." God has a divine plan for each and every one of us. We read in Jeremiah 29:11..."For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." There may be times when we feel that we have no direction, or no sense of purpose, but we must realize that we are very valuable to God, and that He has a specific purpose for each of us. We are told in Isaiah 64:8..."...O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
It's not about the brokenness of the vessel, but rather what God chooses to pour into it. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:6-9..."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." We are weak, that the strength and power of God might be made manifest through us. He pours out His Spirit upon us, as broken vessels, in order that His Light can spill forth through us and illuminate the way for others. Paul relates in 2 Corinthians 12:9, after he had petitioned God to remove the thorn in his flesh three times..."And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
So we see that God doesn't reject broken vessels, rather He restores them and then uses them for His glory. The realization that we are weak and vulnerable leads us to seek for something greater than ourselves. Sadly, many people misinterpret this need and therefore they will attempt to satisfy this longing with material wealth, or addiction, or any number of other things. However, it is a yearning which can ultimately only be fulfilled by God. When we are running away from God, seeking to satisfy our own desires, and make our own way, we will eventually come to a dead end. Psalms 31:12 tells us..."I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel." This is a turning point which we all must reach at some time in our life. When we find ourselves at our lowest point, this is when God can begin to restore us. When we have hit rock bottom, there is a Rock at the bottom for us to cling to and stand on. 2 Samuel 22:2 tells us..."...The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;", and we read in Psalms 147:3..."He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds", and in Psalms 34:18..."The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
It is the coming to terms with our sin and weakness, and the changing of our hearts, that God desires. He wants us to turn to Him if we never have before, and to turn back to Him if we've let sin and weakness, and the stresses and cares of this life, tear us away. We read in Romans 3:23..."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." In his own time of brokenness, David's humble plea to God in Psalms 51:10 is an appeal which should resonate within each of us..."Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
Once we understand the nature of our brokenness, we begin to comprehend the fact that, due to our own sin, as well as original sin, we can never be reconciled to God on our own. Sin has separated us from God. So, what is the answer to the problem of sin? What can heal our brokenness? Only the precious blood of Jesus can take away the stain of sin, and cleanse and purify our hearts. We read in Isaiah 1:18..."...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Jesus gives us the supreme example of Light shining through a broken vessel. In spite of the fact that He had no sin of His own, He allowed Himself to be broken in order to purchase salvation for you and me. We read in Isaiah 53:4-6..."Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we were healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Though we are all broken, yet we are not without hope. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17..."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We must relinquish control of our own lives, and humbly place ourselves as clay into the Hands of the Divine Potter. He will then fill us with His Spirit, He will mend our brokenness, and He will restore our souls.
Earnest Hemingway once said, "We are all broken. That's how the light gets in." God has a divine plan for each and every one of us. We read in Jeremiah 29:11..."For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." There may be times when we feel that we have no direction, or no sense of purpose, but we must realize that we are very valuable to God, and that He has a specific purpose for each of us. We are told in Isaiah 64:8..."...O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
It's not about the brokenness of the vessel, but rather what God chooses to pour into it. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:6-9..."For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." We are weak, that the strength and power of God might be made manifest through us. He pours out His Spirit upon us, as broken vessels, in order that His Light can spill forth through us and illuminate the way for others. Paul relates in 2 Corinthians 12:9, after he had petitioned God to remove the thorn in his flesh three times..."And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
So we see that God doesn't reject broken vessels, rather He restores them and then uses them for His glory. The realization that we are weak and vulnerable leads us to seek for something greater than ourselves. Sadly, many people misinterpret this need and therefore they will attempt to satisfy this longing with material wealth, or addiction, or any number of other things. However, it is a yearning which can ultimately only be fulfilled by God. When we are running away from God, seeking to satisfy our own desires, and make our own way, we will eventually come to a dead end. Psalms 31:12 tells us..."I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel." This is a turning point which we all must reach at some time in our life. When we find ourselves at our lowest point, this is when God can begin to restore us. When we have hit rock bottom, there is a Rock at the bottom for us to cling to and stand on. 2 Samuel 22:2 tells us..."...The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;", and we read in Psalms 147:3..."He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds", and in Psalms 34:18..."The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
It is the coming to terms with our sin and weakness, and the changing of our hearts, that God desires. He wants us to turn to Him if we never have before, and to turn back to Him if we've let sin and weakness, and the stresses and cares of this life, tear us away. We read in Romans 3:23..."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." In his own time of brokenness, David's humble plea to God in Psalms 51:10 is an appeal which should resonate within each of us..."Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
Once we understand the nature of our brokenness, we begin to comprehend the fact that, due to our own sin, as well as original sin, we can never be reconciled to God on our own. Sin has separated us from God. So, what is the answer to the problem of sin? What can heal our brokenness? Only the precious blood of Jesus can take away the stain of sin, and cleanse and purify our hearts. We read in Isaiah 1:18..."...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Jesus gives us the supreme example of Light shining through a broken vessel. In spite of the fact that He had no sin of His own, He allowed Himself to be broken in order to purchase salvation for you and me. We read in Isaiah 53:4-6..."Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we were healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Though we are all broken, yet we are not without hope. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17..."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We must relinquish control of our own lives, and humbly place ourselves as clay into the Hands of the Divine Potter. He will then fill us with His Spirit, He will mend our brokenness, and He will restore our souls.
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