When we think of breaking, we think of something bad. When I was a child, I was very active; to say the least. I was always into something. At times this could not only get me into trouble it could also get on the nerves of those who were babysitting me; like my Grandma D. But there was one woman, my Great Aunt Margaret who not only got me, but knew how to calm me down. She would sit me on her lap and sing “Shorting Bread”.
Several years ago my Grandma D gave me a cookie jar that was my Aunt Margaret’s. Yep it was a shortbread cookie jar. I treasured that jar. It meant the world to me. It was irreplaceable in my mind. If I would have ever sold it, the jar probably was not worth more than a few dollars. But to me it was priceless as it was my only link to my aunt who had died in the late 80’s.
This cookie jar sit on our counter for years. I would not let Alisha put anything in it because I did not want Jason to drop and break it while he was trying to get a cookie. I guarded this jar with my life and was the only one who could move it or clean it.
Have you noticed I speak of that jar in the past tense? Yep a couple of years ago I picked up the jar to clean it, and the counter under it. I do not know what happened but it slipped from my hands. Hit the floor and shattered into a million pieces. I cried like a baby when that happened.
Now let me shift to another story about breaking. Twenty two years ago this month I went through a breaking process. On June 12th, 1995. My feet stood on the yellow footprints of MCRD San Diego. This was to begin a three month breaking process. A time that I was reminded I was lower than dirt. For the next three months, I had to speak in the third person. I had to request permission for everything. For the first month the DI’s even told us how to shower and shave. During this three month period of my life, I was only allowed to refer to myself as a recruit. I was being broken.
Fast forward. Toward the end of this breaking process, we were taken to SATO to make our travel arrangements. While there we were allowed to make one phone call; letting the people on the other end know about graduation and when we would be home on leave. While on the phone a Marine walked by and called me Devil Dog. I thought my heart would leap through my chest with pride. If you do not know why we Marine’s treasure this it is because it was a term given to us by the German’s in WWI; they said we fought like dogs from hell. This marked that the period of breaking was almost over.
About a week later I gathered with my fellow recruits on the parade ground. Our friends and family were all there to watch. The transformation was almost complete; my own family did not recognize me. The completion of the breaking process ended with our BC telling our DI’s to release their Marines. I had been broken and had emerged as one of the few the proud. I was now and forever a Marine. I had joined the illustrious ranks of those who had been formed at Tun Tavern, I was part of those who had raised the flag at Iwo Jima. I was part of something bigger than myself. While being broken hurt, it made me into something that I will always be proud of and will always stay with me.
Sunday we continued our series, ‘Dangerous Prayers’. If you have not guessed by now we talked about breaking. Allowing God to break us and form us into the men and women He would have us be. Men and women that give everything they have in the service of the Lord. Men and women who hold not even our best back from God. Allowing Him to use us to reach a lost and dying world.
We also talked about allowing God to break our hearts for what breaks His. The text was Mark 14:3-9. This is the story of the woman who breaks the jar of perfume and pours it on Jesus’s feet. A woman who risk ridicule and persecution. A woman that gives of her most expensive treasure to the Lord. A woman who commits a beautiful act thousands of years ago which we remember to this day.
This is a beautiful act because she was broken before her Savior. She was so grateful for His forgiveness that she had to express it in a practical way. She was a woman who was being formed, conformed and transformed by Jesus. She was a woman who was willing to hold nothing back; but give it all to the Kingdom of God.
Breaking hurts. Be assured if you pray break me Lord Jesus, He will. If you pray break my heart for what breaks yours, He will probably put you to caring for the least of these. But I can assure you while this is a very dangerous prayer you will see you’re live changed in a mighty way. You will see God work in marvelous ways in your life and the lives of others. You will see people come to faith in Jesus Christ. Your life will no longer belong to you, but it will be worth it. So are you ready to pray break me Lord Jesus? Let me put a warning if you are not there yet, do not pray this. Do not do it because you think it is the right thing to do. Pray it because you want to give your all to Jesus and others. Pastor Travis out.
