(17) This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
(18) "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.
(19) He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
(20) a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
(21) and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
The imagery of this passage is vital to understand it. I don't know a whole lot about reeds, but one thing I have learned from teachings on this passage is that bruised reeds don't stand a chance. If a reed is bruised it is going to break. Period. There is no hope for it.
Similarly, smoldering wicks don't spontaneously come back to fire. Think about that brief orange glow after you blow out a candle. Unless it's a trick candle you won't see it spontaneously burn again. A smoldering wick simply has to go out.
That is unless Jesus is involved. Before He saved me I was a bruised reed. There was no hope for me. I was a smoldering wick that had to go out. There was no hope for fire in me. Then Jesus came along and healed me. He kindled the fire and now it glows again, though there are days when it glows more brightly than others.
This is the offer of the gospel. Would you bring Jesus into your life to heal the bruise and to rekindle the flame?
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