Brokenness that Blesses

Hey, welcome to some encouragement from your friends at Our Daily Bread. The reading for today titled Brokenness That Blesses was written by Arthur Jackson. His back is hunched and he walks with a cane, but his many years of spiritual shepherding are evidence that he leans on God, the source of his strength. In 1993, the Reverend William Barber was diagnosed with a debilitating disease that causes the vertebra of the spine to fuse together. In a not-so-subtle way, he was told, Barber, you probably gonna need to figure out another thing to do besides pastoring because the church ain't gonna want someone disabled to be their pastor.

But Barber overcame that hurtful comment. God has not only used him as a pastor, but he's also been a powerful, respected voice for underserved and marginalized people. Though the world may not fully know what to do with those with disabilities, God does. Those who value beauty and brawn and things that money can buy can miss the good that accompanies uninvited brokenness. The rhetorical question of James in James chapter two and the principle underneath it are worth considering. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? When health or strength or other things are reduced, one's faith needn't follow suit. By God's strength, it can be the opposite.

Our lack can be a catalyst to trust him. Our brokenness, as was the case with Jesus, can be used of him to bring good to our world. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from James chapter two verses three through six. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, here's a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, you stand there or sit on the floor by my feet, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters, has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?

Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Let's pray. Father, please help us to see beyond our own perceived weaknesses and to look for how you can use those weaknesses as a means to reach into the lives of others for you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.