A Broken Spirit

Admin Wed 25 Feb 2015, 5:50 pm

A Broken Spirit

I have heard that there is a monastery in Greece
perched high on a cliff, several hundred feet in the
air. The only way to reach the monastery is to be
suspended in a basket which is pulled to the top by
several monks who pull and tug with all their strength.
Obviously, the ride up the steep cliff in that basket
is terrifying.

One tourist got exceedingly nervous about half-way up
as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended
was old and frayed. With a trembling voice he asked the
monk who was riding with him in the basket how often
they changed the rope.

The monk thought for a moment and answered serenely:
"Whenever it breaks."

We are shocked that someone would wait that long before
changing the rope. It only makes sense that the rope
ought to be changed long before reaching that point.
But it dawned on me that God operates the same way in
our lives. If we were to ask God when He will change
our lives, His answer might well be, "Whenever you
break!"

You see, our lives can only change once we have what
the Bible refers to as a "broken spirit". As long as we
remain arrogant and determined to do things our way,
God can't shape us and mold us. Like a wild stallion,
we remain useless until we are "broken."

"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and
saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psa. 34:18).

Father, I so often want to stubbornly do things my way.
Help me as I strive to have a broken spirit,
recognizing my shortcomings, humbly willing to listen
to Your instruction. In Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith, "Thought for the Day," Helen Street Church
of Christ, Fayetteville, North Carolina. To subscribe
to "Thought for the Day," send a blank email to
join-thought-for-the-day@hub.xc.org