These things all have one thing in common - they can't be used until they are fixed. Once, when my husband was extremely busy and the pile was too big, I actually sold the broken items at my garage sale for $1 with a tongue-in-cheek sign, "The Honey Didn't Do." I was not surprised that many of the fixable items were purchased. People love to restore good items to usability.
When things can't be fixed, they must be thrown out. Raised by generations of frugal-fixers, this bothers me. For me to throw something out, it has to be in pretty rough shape.
The Lord's policy is different, He doesn't throw out broken things, He uses them.
Leonard Ravenhill, in Why Revival Tarries, said, "God only uses broken things. For example, Jesus took the lad's bread and brake it; then and only then, could it feed the crowd.
The alabaster box was broken' only then could its fragrance escape and fill the house -- and the world.
Jesus said, "This is My body which was broken for you." If such was the way the Master went, should not the servant tread it still?
We need to be broken first to be used.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
A heart needs to be broken in conviction because of our sin against a holy God.
Because of His broken body, we can be forgiven and redeemed.
Like Mary, we can break the boxes that hold the oil of our worship.
Then, He can break the bread of service we offer, and multipy it to the people.
Because, the Lord uses broken things.
**********
Everlasting Love
by DeGarmo and Key
When tender hearts hold broken dreams,
Somehow You use broken things,
To teach those tender hearts to sing,
Of everlasting love.
When all around is cold & gray,
The ice soon melts, the gray soon fades,
Your Spirit takes them all away,
In everlasting love.
I can't repay your love,
That's understood.
I'll try each day, my Lord,
To do all I know I should.
When days are filled with trials and tests,
You turn those troubled times to rest,
Through it all my life is blessed,
With everlasting love.
Thank you Mindy for this post. Tears are in my eyes, for this has really touched me deeply. I just sense God's love and mercy! Bless you! xxx
ReplyDeleteI came here via Sarah's blog, this is so powerful! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been taking a bit of a break, so just read this. It is so good. I'm glad He uses us broken, because most days that is exactly how I feel. Thanks for reminding me that it is where I need to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this very sweet reminder of our Lord's grace!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Makes me think of this, which I wrote in my quote journal many years ago: "God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever." —Vance Havne
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