2024

  As we continue in Ecclesiastes 3 verse 3, we are now looking at "a time to break down”. A lot of times when I look at a verse I just read, I will usually think about it for a while. Many a time it will lead me to other verses that I am familiar with, and you just keep following the trail. Sometimes it makes me think of common life situations. When I first read that line in the verse, I thought about how in the military the first thing they do in boot camp is break you down to start new. Get rid of all your old habits and instill new and better habits. It is a hard process that I have never had to endure but have known many who have as we all have known many who have. We also know that even in life, tangible things need to be broken down for many reasons. We will see throughout the Bible many instances of things and even people needing to be broken down. And of course, it is all for the glory of God.

 We read Joshua chapter 5 and 6 of the stories of Joshua and Jericho. It has a lot of powerful meaning associated with it. Even Hebrews 11:30 mentions the story of great faith. There are times when complete cities and walls need to be broken down.

 When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, we know God will break down whole armies when they were drowned trying to catch up the Israelites. We see that story in Exodus 14:28.

The Bible is full of stories like these. I want to go into the New Testament and focus on when there is a time for us to be broken down. I think as a human, one of the hardest things is for us to start new things and ideas when we have been doing the old ones for a long time. Changing the ways you think about a subject when you have always thought one way. I can recount a few times I had to start all over, it’s not easy.

I want to look at the story of when Saul’s (Paul’s) encounter with Jesus. Now if you do not know much about Saul, he was a very feared person among Christians. He killed and persecuted Christians.

Acts 9 1-9

(1) And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2 )and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (3)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (7) And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (8) And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

A great story. Saul had to be broken down, or even for better words, humbled. God wanted to use Saul for good, but know he had to be broken down, and start fresh. Saul would be blinded temporarily and pretty much starved for a few days. As Christians the best way for us to be broken down is through humility. The Bible tells to humbles our selves in the sight of the Lord.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Psalm 34:2  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

 There is a point where we need to break ourselves down. To humble ourselves to see what the Lord has for us. That might mean starting new on things.

What areas or even situations in our life do we know of that need to be broken down and started new?