MATTHEW 12:15-21 – Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE GENTLENESS OF JESUS. Allow me to plug a book before we get into today’s nugget. It is titled Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Saints by Dane Ortlund. It is based on Matthew 11:28-29 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. The introduction reads “This is a book about the heart of Christ. Who is He? Who is He really? What is most natural to Him? What ignites within Him most immediately as He moves toward sinners and sufferers? What flows out most freely, most instinctively? Who is He? This book is written for the discouraged, the frustrated, the weary, the disenchanted, the cynical, the empty. Those running on fumes. Those whose Christian lives feel like constantly running up a descending escalator. Those of us who find ourselves thinking: ‘How could I mess up that bad – again?’ It is for that increasing suspicion that God’s patience with us is wearing thin.”
Go ahead and read the latter part of Ortlund’s introduction to his book again; the part that describes the target audience. He is describing us. All true Christians. The pictures he paints are the images in today’s scripture – bruised reeds and smoldering wicks.
What is a bruised reed? A smoldering wick? Figuratively, these are descriptions of weak, frail, helpless believers who are easily broken or snuffed out by trying circumstances and difficulties in life, not to mention sin. And who are those believers? All believers. Now comes the challenge. When we are resembling bruised reeds and smoldering wicks, the devil comes with his strongest of temptations – to make Christ out to be the opposite that He is to such timid, wounded believers. In our brokenness, the devil whispers “God won’t forgive you. He won’t help you again. His patience is gone. He has turned His back on you.” This is real warfare, the greatest area of spiritual warfare – attacks on God’s character leading us to doubt His love and care. But then come the truths, the truths unfolded in the book I am recommending. Jesus is kind. Jesus is gentle. Jesus is approachable and will never break or blow us out. He the gentle and lowly Jesus who comes to His sheep’s aid all the time!
So, Jesus – the gentle and lowly Jesus. Lean on Him in those seasons of feeling like a bruised reed or smoldering wick but better yet, lean on Him in all seasons!.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for being so kind and gentle in handling me in my many ups and downs in life.”
QUOTE: “The devil, not God, makes Jesus as being harsh and a hard master, unwilling to give grace in our failings.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim