Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break and smoking flax he will not quench until judgment is brought forth unto truth.
When I look around the landscape of Christiandom today, I am amazed and appalled at how many of God’s chosen people are hurting, struggling and hunting for answers that seem to not be found. It is apparent that there are many bruised and battered people in this world, some of them are bruised due to sin either their own or that of someone else.
When I became a Christian 33 years ago I was deeply wounded by my own sin, and I would not have chosen me to be a part of the kingdom but thank God a bruised reed he did not break. In 33 years of kingdom living I have encountered many storms some of them seemed as if they would rage on forever. I have felt bruised and even crushed by winds of adversity, but even in this condition my master did not throw me away, he simply propped me up supporting me and brought me through it.
Two of my closest long-term friends have recently been bruised very deeply. They lost two sons within two weeks of each other the blow was devastating. I have a fresh word for them and for all of you who are bruised by sorrow. The blow was neither complete nor irreparable and the Savior will heal you, strengthen you and make you a blessing to others. I have been battling rheumatoid arthritis for 19 years it has literally tried to devour me. For those of you who battled long-term sickness I just want to remind you that the master knows all about it and he cares. I know that seems like an oversimplification, but it is absolute truth, divine healing is still just one prayer away. You are not disposable, and he will not discard you because you are bruised. People may give up on you but make no mistake about it the master never will. You may feel weak, depressed, lonely and dejected, but remember his touch is gentle and he will not treat you violently. Family, those in authority, and teachers may have told you that you are useless and have no purpose, but. they are wrong. The master is reaching out to you even now, not with a rod of iron, but with a scepter of grace inviting you to make your petition one more time.
Luke 4:18 Jesus said” he came to bind up the brokenhearted and set at liberty them that are bruised”. He will revive purpose in our hearts and lives.
In the second part of this passage smoking flax he will not quench, your fire for God may be at the lowest place in your life, but you will receive attention and care from the master. It may seem that you offer very little help to others and seemed to have no illumination; the good news is the master is cognizant of your situation. He will revive you, tend to you, cherish and replenish you with the oil of the Holy Ghost.
We must recognize our need for a fresh infilling of his Spirit. Stop comparing your fire or your abilities to others it is not wise. There are very few bright and shining lights in the kingdom today and sometimes it seems as if the fire has completely gone out. Our devotion, prayer life, praise, study and giving may all be burning low. With extreme tenderness and constant care, the master is presently preparing to pour out the greatest outpouring of his spirit the world has ever seen. Jesus will sanction no less than excellence and the highest of moral purity.
You may feel that you offer little light, heat or fire to impart to others; he is about to fill your cup to running over. Your life may be presently running on empty and you feel you are accomplishing nothing and have nothing to give to others. It may be due to sin or simply the lack of desire within the church to fan the fire of the Holy Spirit. Remember a bright fire illuminates, warms, and keeps the enemy away.
Every little boy in Galilee had a flute made from a reed, and due to his carelessness, he would many times sit on it and bruise it, therefore changing its sound. The easiest thing in the world would be to discard it, and cut a new reed, but not Jesus, he has too much compassion, mercy and grace to just replace you due to your pain. Every woman in Israel had a house full of lamps and plenty of replacement wicks, the natural thing to do and easiest thing to do would be to simply throw them out, because the light was dim, and the smoke and smell were offensive. He will come in trim away the flesh and breathe gently on what little fire is left and pour in fresh oil, and once again you will shine brighter and give off a sweet aroma.
Robert D. Pilgrim
