A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth. Isaiah 42: 3,4 NASB

 

Jesus is God’s Servant; the chosen One in whom He delights. God favors Him and is pleased with Him. Jesus has satisfied our debt. God also upholds Him. (Isaiah 42: 1,2) In Hebrew, uphold means to “hold fast.” God will not let go of His Son; He has put His Spirit in Him. His conduct and demeanor are gentle. He does not cry out or raise His voice; nor does He demand His own way. He’s quiet and submissive to His Father’s will. Furthermore, He will bring forth justice.

The world toils with pride and self-sufficiency; darkness prevails and oppresses. However, believers fall into the same swamp of self-provision, protection, and empowerment. We cling to our notion of power and deceive ourselves. God alone is in control. We’re but bruised reeds and smoking flax. We’re not mighty oaks, but reeds. Not unblemished, but bruised. And bruising is necessary.

Church pews are filled with many enslaved by addictions, anger, self-injury, regret and hopelessness. Weary and wounded, we long for community; but because of our hurt, we distrust its possibility. Bruising brings us to our knees. Leaders and congregants alike must bow. We see ourselves rightly and despair over our sin. We all fall short of the glory of God. He alone is holy. 

We’re all indebted to our Savior. The gospel is indeed the gospel. Grace upon grace . . . gift after gift, God’s plenty is bestowed upon us; and we are healed.

 After conversion we need bruising so that reeds may know themselves to be reeds, and not oaks. Even reeds need bruising, by reason of the remainder of pride in our nature, and to let us see that we live by mercy . . . Nothing in the world is of so good use as the least grain of grace.
~ The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes

The Lord won’t break the bruised reed; and a dimly lit wick He won’t extinguish. He is most familiar with troubled souls. Our shepherd tends the weak and wounded. He feeds the hungry, seeks the lost, and binds the injured and heart sick. He carries His lambs close and defends them against their enemies. Are you feeling small? Invisible? Weak? And Weary? The Lord values you and me, not as we are, but what we shall be!

The Lord fans our faint flame with grace as we consider the mighty oak rises from an acorn. Peter became the rock. Although, he denied Jesus, Jesus did not deny his small flicker of light. Jesus came from the tribe of Jesse; and David was a shepherd boy and lunch bearer before he became king. Furthermore, he was born in Bethlehem, the least of cities and “House of Bread.” 

We are called to be holy and blameless; but our strength isn’t the strength of iron and rods. We minister to the bruised, and we are the bruised. However, our Lord upholds us. He never lets go! Light infiltrates the wetland. There is smoke—sin, doubt, fear, and weariness. But God! The little spark of grace is cherished. It is gifted from heaven above and kindled by the Holy Spirit.

Blessings abound from His flame.

Be encouraged,

Lily Mae

       For who has despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10 NASB