My Servant
The following is encouragement for you as if Jesus Christ Himself was speaking. These are meant to give you insight into His Heart, how He thinks, and how He feels about you. Let this encouragement begin to dwell deep within you!
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”
ISAIAH 42:1-4 (NIV)
This passage of Scripture from the Book of Isaiah was written to describe me, and what I do. Let me bring you a little deeper into these words, so that they may encourage you!
The first point to notice is that the word “justice” is repeated three times. You live in a society and world that is not always just; you get hurt and no one notices; you struggle and no one seems to care. But I do. And one day in the right timing, you will be made whole again; you will never be forgotten.
Second, many of my brothers and sisters feel like a bruised reed, or a smoldering wick. In other words, there’s been some damage done, some hard times, some errors in the past, and now there’s just barely enough energy to just get by. I want to change that! I want to rebuild and heal you to help you grow straight, and I want to touch you so that you burn brightly. My mercy is enough to bring you into full health and wisdom.
Third, notice the word “faithfulness”. I want desperately for you to know that I am a faithful brother and savior; I do not falter or run tired, I do not become discouraged, but rather I am always looking at you as to how you could be, hope to be, and will be! Matter of fact, I’m at work even today getting ready to bless you mightily!
Last, the translation above use the word “islands”, but there is another translation that states that I will not be satisfied until even those “in distant lands” know me and are blessed!
How about you? Are you feeling as bent as a bruised reed, as weak as a dimly burning wick? Are you feeling that you are in a distant land, not really knowing me, and not really believing that I know you?
Put your hope in me and let’s begin your healing! After all, I delight in you!
I really like you, and I really love you!
PAUSE … Invite Him to be with you; let Him quiet you with His Love.
REFLECT… What is God saying to you?
1) In what ways are you like a bruised reed, or a smoldering wick?
2) Do you sometimes feel you are in a lonely, “distant land”?
3) How has Jesus been, and how will Jesus be, always faithful to you? What is the justice, and what are the blessings you need?
4) What does it mean that He will not "falter"?
5) The above questions are aimed at where you were at the beginning of Comfort.Guide. You may have even used a "word-picture" to describe your self. For instance, you may have described yourself as a desert, or a dried-up stream.
We invite you to come up with a "word-picture" describing you TODAY. Begin to more clearly see Jesus providing you with the personal, tender care shown in this Scripture!
RECEIVE … Receive the ability, directly given from the Holy Spirit, to place trust and hope in Jesus. Enjoy the expectation of new and vibrant life to come.
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