Somethings Have to be Broken

Somethings have to be broken before they can be useful. I have a barrel of grain that I use for making bread. My grandchildren love to thrust their hands deep into the barrel and feel the smooth grain flowing around their fingers. But it's only when I grind the grain that I can use it to make bread.

Somethings have to be broken before they can be useful. When I bake bread the house is filled with the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread. The delicious aroma usually draws my family into the kitchen to see what is coming out of the oven. The crusty warm bread sits on my counter but it's not until the bread is broken and eaten that it yields it's strength.

Somethings have to be broken before they can be useful. Simon Peter had been one the first men who chose to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. He was chosen to be one of the twelve apostles. He was there with Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration and saw Jesus glorified. When Jesus asked, "Who do men say I am?" Peter was quick to respond, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16) He was sure of who he was he knew his place no wonder he was confused when Jesus say, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and once you have turned again, strengthen you brothers" (Luke 22:31,32)

Somethings have to be broken before they can be useful. This is a true statement to make use of the grain I must first crush it yet, "Bread grain is crushed, but is not threshed endlessly."(Isaiah 28:28) The bread I bake is broken so that it can nourish my family. Satan wanted to destroy Peter but Jesus used this darkest chapter of Peter's life to establish him. Because Peter was broken he was given a message to a broken world that there is a living hope. We may be broken but we will not be threshed endlessly because we have a Savior who is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Savior and my Redeemer. I confess I do not like to be broken. Sometimes I am even fearful when I see those I love being sifted. Thank you for Your promise that you are praying for me and those I love just like you did for Peter.