Bible League: Living His Word "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He shall bring forth judgment unto truth."— Isaiah 42:3 NKJV As a servant of the Lord, do you ever feel burnt out, discouraged, depressed, despairing, hopeless, and even broken? I do and I know you probably do as well from time to time. This is just the reality of serving Jesus in a world that goes against His truth. The battle has been going on for a long time. Moses was so discouraged and despairing he asked God to kill him (Numbers 11:14-15). David and his men wept and wept over a defeat (1 Samuel 30:4). The Apostle Paul listed his ministry woes as described in 2 Corinthians 11. The prophet Elijah came to a place of exhaustion, unworthiness, and a lost sense of purpose in his dealings with Jezebel. As Christ suffered, we shall too as His servants (Romans 8:17-18). We've all been there. Perhaps you are there right now. Fear not my friend and let the peace of God that surpasses all understanding comfort you in this season. Paul, reflecting on his ministry journey, tells us he suffered the loss of all things and concluded that their value was only that of "dung" compared to what he gained in Christ (Philippians 3:8). Matthew records that Jesus healed "all who were ill" from a crowd that was following Him. Then he quotes from our passage in Isaiah to show how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy about the Messiah (Matthew 12:18-21). I find it interesting that Matthew is the one who captures this. I believe Matthew was a bruised reed feeling burnt out, perhaps despairing over the ministry challenges on top of his own personal challenges. He had been a dreaded tax collector; and being from the tribe of Levi, he had walked away from his religious heritage to follow Jesus. He became an outsider now in ministry to the outsiders. But Jesus sees it all. He sees and knows when His servants are weak and despairing. Discouraged and depressed. Burnt out and broken. Isaiah's prophecy speaks of the coming Messiah. As Jesus was "bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5), He understands the "bruised reed" in us. In all His miracle healings, Jesus was ministering to a bruised reed. He ministered to the bruised reeds gathered in the upper room after His death. He restored Peter in his condition as a bruised reed after denying the Lord. God will never despise a broken spirit or contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). He will not despise the prayers of the destitute (Psalm 102:17). "A bruised reed He shall not break. A smoking flax He shall not quench." "A bruised reed He shall not break" is a picture of one bent and weak in the service of the Lord. A servant may be overwhelmed but also gloriously peaceful in knowing that it is Jesus who promises to mend and restore the bruised reed. "A smoking flax He shall not quench" is a picture of barely hanging in there in one's service to the Lord. You may feel like your fire is gone, your zeal and passion are empty, you are just an ember barely smoking. And yet we can be at peace knowing that Jesus will never let the smoking flax flame out completely. As long as there is smoke, there can be fire. Fire for the Lord! It is Jesus who promises to rekindle your fire so that your light can shine brightly again, unhidden, to be seen by all for His glory. The Prophet Elijah in his despairing could do nothing but cry out to God. It is in that moment the Lord met him and reassured him in a still, small voice that He was there for Elijah. It is the same Lord and same promise to you beloved servant of Christ. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus will always be our comforter, our restorer, our peace (Ephesians 2:14). May our Lord's peace be upon you and with you, beloved servant of the most high. May your bruises be healed and restored, and may your flax burn brightly as you continue to serve and share His truth for His judgment. By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 17, 18 2 Samuel 17 -- Hushai's Warning Saves David NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 18 -- Absalom Slain by Joab; David Mourns NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 21:1-19 Luke 21 -- The Widow's Gift; Signs of the End of the Age NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.Insight Solomon summarized all his attempts at finding life's meaning as “chasing the wind.” We feel the wind as it passes, but we can't catch hold of it or keep it. In all our accomplishments, even the big ones, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, but far beyond them in the love of God. Challenge Think about what you consider worthwhile in your life—where you place your time, energy, and money. Will you one day look back and decide that these, too, were “chasing the wind”? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 10:16 The Lord is King forever and ever.Jesus Christ is no despotic claimant of divine right, but he is really and truly the Lord's anointed! "It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." God hath given to him all power and all authority. As the Son of man, he is now head over all things to his church, and he reigns over heaven, and earth, and hell, with the keys of life and death at his girdle. Certain princes have delighted to call themselves kings by the popular will, and certainly our Lord Jesus Christ is such in his church. If it could be put to the vote whether he should be King in the church, every believing heart would crown him. O that we could crown him more gloriously than we do! We would count no expense to be wasted that could glorify Christ. Suffering would be pleasure, and loss would be gain, if thereby we could surround his brow with brighter crowns, and make him more glorious in the eyes of men and angels. Yes, he shall reign. Long live the King! All hail to thee, King Jesus! Go forth, ye virgin souls who love your Lord, bow at his feet, strew his way with the lilies of your love, and the roses of your gratitude: "Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all." Moreover, our Lord Jesus is King in Zion by right of conquest: he has taken and carried by storm the hearts of his people, and has slain their enemies who held them in cruel bondage. In the Red Sea of his own blood, our Redeemer has drowned the Pharaoh of our sins: shall he not be King in Jeshurun? He has delivered us from the iron yoke and heavy curse of the law: shall not the Liberator be crowned? We are his portion, whom he has taken out of the hand of the Amorite with his sword and with his bow: who shall snatch his conquest from his hand? All hail, King Jesus! we gladly own thy gentle sway! Rule in our hearts forever, thou lovely Prince of Peace. Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Galatians 6:14,15 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. • For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Ephesians 5:1-3,8 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; • and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. • But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; • for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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