Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out."
The suffering Savior, Jesus, is gentle with those who suffer. He wants to see that truth and righteousness will prevail in the earth.
The fact that our Lord will not break the bruised reed nor quench a dimly burning wick shows His great love for fallen sinners, a love that prompted Him to go into death for them and that continues to move Him to receive sinners.
A reed or stick that has been bruised is in danger of total breakage. The least little snap could break it. Persons who have been bruised by their sins are especially vulnerable to the attacks of Satan, but the Savior will not let that weak faith be broken. Through His call to repentance and faith, extended in the Gospel, He allows the reed to stay intact, that is, the person does not succumb to despair or to Satan's lures.
A wick that burns dimly could easily be quenched, but our Lord does not let the lamp of faith go out. He sustains us, even as He calls and pleads, "O sinner, come home to Me." Our sometimes small faith is replenished through Word and Sacraments. We praise our patient, pardoning God for making His strength perfect in our weakness.
PRAYER: Lord, strengthen our weak faith and keep us with You. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 7-8 Matthew 25:1-30
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