Jan 15
3
ONLY ONE THING USEFUL WHEN IT IS BROKEN
I cannot think of many things that are useful when they are broken. We are either forced to discard them or to try to have them repaired. You cannot drive a broken car. You cannot use a broken computer. A broken arm will not be of much service to you nor can you walk on a broken leg. I can only think of one thing that is very useful when it is broken, a broken and a contrite heart. When God in His infinite mercy is pleased to call us to Himself and reveal the gospel to us, He breaks the hard and stony heart of sin and gives us a heart of flesh to humbly approach the throne of grace (Ezek. 36:26). Consider the advantages of a broken heart!
1). A broken heart is acceptable and pleasing unto God! “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
2). It makes the soul a fit vessel for God to dwell in! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).
3). It draws the sinner close to his Lord and Saviour! “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
4). It exposes the sheep to the sweet healing of the Shepherd! “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick”
(Ezek. 34:16).
5). It is the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit within us! “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:8-10).
Rejoice my friend, if you find that your heart has been convicted and broken over your sin against God (Psa. 51:4). It is not everyone that has this experience of God’s grace in the heart. Our Lord has said that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13). If God has given you a broken heart, rejoice because He came to heal the broken hearted. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Tom Harding, Pastor of Zebulon Baptist Church, Pikeville, KY