Broken yet blessed
Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:15-17
Brokenness and having a contrite spirit are virtues that are no longer valued in our culture. People nowadays would rather impose their own rights even when their actions are contrary to God’s will. From the Scripture, those who will come to God in brokenness and contrite spirit experience God’s blessing. Part of God’s design in creation provides a clear example of what attitude of brokenness could do. The soil in order to produce harvest has to be broken and tilled so that seed could be sown. The seed once planted has to be broken and die in order to germinate so that life could be produced. Clouds after gathering moisture have to be broken so it could produce rain that will water the plants. From the text, David expressed his brokenness before God as his offer of sacrifice for without it all other sacrifices will not be acceptable. The Bible is replete with examples where God commands His people to offer a sacrifice of brokenness in spirit so that they will experience His blessings. Jacob has to be broken by God when he wrestled with Him so he could realize the power God has and that he needs to submit to Him (Genesis 32:24-32). This is the only way that he could find favor in the sight of God. The Lord Jesus Christ had to rebuke His disciples when they expressed their disappointment when a woman broke a vial of perfume so she could anoint Him before His death on the cross (Mark 14:3-8). He even commended the act of the woman that “wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:9). God longs for your daily sacrifice of brokenness and contrite spirit. And as prophet Joel declared, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart… And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:12-13). Ask God to let you learn how to be humble so you could show to Him your broken and contrite spirit. God wants to bless you so you could be a blessing to others. Only by having a broken spirit that God could bless you so you could bless others.
Blessings.
