Broke and Broken
July 30, 2024
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)
I love the story of Mohammed Ali boarding an airplane, walking up and down the aisle, yelling, “I am the greatest!” In an effort to seat all the passengers for takeoff, a flight attendant approaches Ali: “Mr. Ali, you need to sit down and fasten your seatbelt.”
Ali retorted back loudly, “Lady, Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” Quick as a flash she said to him even louder, “Superman don’t need no airplane either. Sit down and buckle up!”
We all need to sit down and buckle up. Yesterday, as we explored the first beatitude, we learned that we are spiritually and morally bankrupt without God.
And, today we are going to take it one step further. To be spiritually bankrupt doesn’t just mean you are broke; it means you are also broken.
The Apostle Paul wrote over half of the New Testament, became the greatest church planter, missionary, evangelist, and theologian in the history of the church. And yet, we learn that he was also broken before God.
The first step to being broken is seeing God for who He really is. He is wholly perfect and he is perfectly holy. Then when you see God for who he really is, you see yourself for who you really are – sinful, selfish, carnal, greedy, and prideful.
When that happens it breaks your heart. It also eliminates comparison. You realize your condition is just as bad and your position is just as low. This brokenness opens the door to grace; a humble profession brings a heavenly possession.
If you want to be a saint, you must admit you are a sinner. For the highway to Heaven is paved with the concrete of brokenness. Life is going to be bumpy, there are going to be twists and turns. We can be secure and safe in our brokenness, “buckled up”, resting in the promises of God.
Prayer: Father, I am overwhelmed with my own spiritual needs. I know I have nothing to offer You, and yet You offer me everything. I come before You broken, and thank You that Your own body was broken that I might receive the Kingdom of Heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.