Broken Bread

 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17......"A humble, repentant heart is like a God magnet." Chris Tiegreen

Author and speaker Nancy Leigh DeMoss tells of a group of African believers who, when told of someone coming to minister to them, asked this question; "Are they a broken Christian?" Not, are they gifted preachers or impressive and bold leaders. They didn't ask if they had a record of building growing fellowships, or winning large numbers of the lost. They wanted to know if, above all else, they were broken before the Lord? Were they broken in Christ?

Do you think this is a question that the average pulpit search committee would ask a pastoral candidate? Do most missionary boards ask it of their candidates? In the local church, as we seek those who will minister, is it even a factor in those we seek? What is it that we really want in those we are looking to lead and serve? What is it that most impresses us? What is it, in any of these that we really want to see? Does brokenness before Him even enter into the picture? I think we know the answer to that, but I don't think we want to address the reason for that answer.

Brokenness is not a value in these things because brokenness is not a value to the average western believer. In a culture that applauds achievement, success, and celebrity, brokenness has little appeal to our flesh. This should be expected in the world, but it's a tragedy that it has become just as big a reality in His church. Eugene Peterson said that it is difficult to recognize pride as a sin when it's held up as a virtue on every side. This has become painfully true within the church.

We live in a hard, fallen world. A world that is highly skilled in hardening us. There is not much God can do with a hard heart except break it, and the idea of a God who loves us enough to do so is not much accepted in a church that has painted God's love in such sugary ways, Yet, any true disciple of Christ knows that bringing us to brokenness is a work that He is committed to, and He has the means of doing so. He does it through His Word, through the circumstances He allows, and through His Church, through our fellow believers. Through the loving counsel of many, as well as the sometimes unloving words and actions of some. He will do so because it is only the tender heart of flesh that will encounter and see Him. Hearts of stone never can. As Tiegreen says, a broken, humble, and repentant heart is a magnet to the heart and life of the Father.

One doesn't have to go far on the many outlets of social media to see that there is a large amount of hardheartedness among His people. Anger, hateful words, hardened attitudes are all on display. There is so much that is wrong in our culture, and we need to be righteously angry about it. Our problem is that our anger is manifesting in carnal ways. God will use His church to come against the evil that is rampant, but He will do so through hearts tenderized to Him, and through which He can speak, warn, and move in the midst of it all. The people of God are to fight on their knees, not with their words and attitudes. Is your heart such a heart? Is mine?

I get back to those original thoughts. God values and cherishes our brokenness. Do we? Do you? Does brokenness show through in your life? What areas of hardness still show through? Where is He working right now to transform an area of hardness into one of tender openness to Him and to others. DeMoss writes that, "A heart that is broken and humble before Him will be broken and humble before others." How true is that of us? To the degree that it's not, we need the softening work of the Holy Spirit.

We're to be broken bread and poured out wine in Christ. To really live such a life will not bring worldly acclaim and applause, but it is through such that His presence, life, and love will move. We have so many who seek a stage to perform from. He offers a bowl and a towel. Which do we really prefer?

Blessings,

Pastor O