Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hang on


It’s a picture of the careful tenderness of God, embodied in Jesus.

Matthew, the gospel writer, in one of his descriptions of Jesus, reaches way back to the prophet Isaiah. There he finds words about his Lord.

They are words about making things right in this world. Justice. They are words for those whose faith is barely there. It’s almost gone but not quite.

Maybe it should be put out of its misery? No.

The words reveal that God is not mad at the struggler whose faith is almost gone. Quite the opposite!

Matthew 12:20 — A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

God understands the struggler, the one with weak faith, the one beaten down by people and problems. He offers a sweet invitation to them, to all of us.

Matthew 11:28,29 — "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

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