“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he
not quench.”
— Matthew 12:20

What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that
groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and
it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised
and broken; every wind that flits across the river moves it to and fro.
You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence
is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed. Then look at the smoking
flax-what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true, but it is almost
smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out; nothing has a more
precarious existence than its flame. Weak things are here described,
yet Jesus says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench; the
bruised reed I will not break.” Some of God’s children are made strong
to do mighty works for him; God has his Samsons here and there who can
pull up Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; he has a
few mighties who are lion-like men, but the majority of his people are
a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every
passer by; a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they are taken
like birds in a snare; if trial threatens, they are ready to faint;
their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave, they are drifted
along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows-weak things, without
strength, without wisdom, without foresight. Yet, weak as they are, and
because they are so weak, they have this promise made specially to
them. Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and
lovingkindness! How it opens to us the compassion of Jesus-so gentle,
tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from his touch. We need
never fear a harsh word from him; though he might well chide us for our
weakness, he rebuketh not. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from him,
and the smoking flax no damping frowns.

On this day...

• Deuteronomy 5:24 - 2011
• The Major Decision - 2011
• Psalms 97:1 - 2008
• Genesis 9:15 - 2008