Broken

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Mosaic pieces are some of my favorite works of art. I love how the artist will use the broken pieces of pottery and glass that others would have discarded, to create stunning images. When you think about it, those pieces have every right to be discarded... they are no longer functional, their original intent and purpose can no longer be fulfilled...some would say they are worthless, even. And yet, the artist can look beyond their broken state and imagine something far greater.

"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 Havner

I came across this quote the other night on Twitter, and it has been on my mind ever since. I love being reminded that God takes great delight in using things {especially people} that the world has considered to be utterly worthless, to accomplish His kingdom purpose. He specializes in using the broken.

 Some of the greatest heroes of the Bible are men and women who are broken... who have a past... who have made mistakes... who are plagued with guilt and regret... have taken risks and failed miserably... have been discarded... abandoned...outcasts of society. Think about it:

Adam- broken

Even- broken

Abraham- broken

Isaac- broken

Jacob- broken

Moses- broken

Noah- broken

Gideon- broken

Ruth- broken

Rahab- broken

David- broken

Mary-broken

the Samaritan woman- broken

Peter- broken

Paul- broken

And those are simply the ones that first came to my mind. There are others. Many others. He uses those who are poor to shame the rich. Those who are weak to humble the strong. He uses prostitutes, tax collectors, adulterers, leapers, the demon possessed, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the crippled, and {gasp} murderers and outcasts to accomplish His mission. 

Why? 

Perhaps it is because they have nothing left to lose? Perhaps it is because these are the ones who lavishly hold onto God's grace and are therefore able to extend it to others? Perhaps it is because the broken are not self-sufficient and utterly depend on God to survive from one day to the next? Perhaps it is simply because they are willing- willing to allow God to transform them and make them into something new- something greater than they could have ever hoped or dreamed. I don't know why He chooses to use the broken- but I'm grateful that He does. 

Because I'm broken.