The Bible appropriately likens this to ‘a smoking flax’. To one degree or another, perhaps we all have either been, are, or someday will be a proverbial smoking flax – like the barely or dimly lit wick of a flickering candle whose light seems ready to expire…completely.
According to Isaiah 42:1-4, Jesus, God's Servant will not quench us (i.e., not put out any remaining indication of a flame) when we are like smoking flax. Rather, He rekindles our hope and faith by drawing us into His presence where there is fullness of joy.
The article cited below (“The Bruised Reed”) concludes with a story in which a fellow quips to his friend, "If you love me, tell me where I hurt!" This speaks of effective listening skills of a loving friend – being able to paraphrase accurately that which we have listened to …and heard. No doubt there is a form of quasi-healing in just sharing our lengthening lists of hurts and woes with a caring heart and a hearing (not just a listening) ear. Having been frequently on both ends of this deal, I now see that, though helpful to a degree, such sharing can easily become rather addictive and even harmful to our healing. The cautionary words of Jesus, “…take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18), could also infer ‘take heed what you hear’.
While being able to understand and recite all of a friends' hurts, once heard and understood, it is far better, isn't it, to help put and keep in place an appropriate healing balm on as many of those hurts as possible. God's gracious Word, relevant to each hurt and bathed in the fear/respect of The Lord, is the best healing balm available. Designed to be health to all our flesh, strength to all our bones (including ligaments and tendons!), peace to our minds, and healing hope to hurting hearts. (Proverbs 3:8, 4:22, 16:24), it literally 'covers the works!' The tragedy may well be our reluctance to receive, apply and sustain this needful balm, in favor of yet another friend who will listen and recite to us, “Where do I hurt?"
Next time you feel like your candle of hope is about to go out, may this post gently remind you to search for that Christ-like friend who will neither quench it, nor join the chorus of friends who can only recite to you their perspectives and the details of all your hurts. Such may inadvertently serve only to deepen and keep them afresh in your mind. Rather, search for that friend who, in love, will listen briefly -- with purpose (without getting lost in the minute details), and will aptly help you to apply healing balms of/from The Word, and thereby help replenish the supply of your oil of hope, find afresh the faithfulness of your faith, and rekindle the fire of your determination to overcome by The Blood of The Lamb and the word of your testimony. (Revelation 12:11)
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The Bruised Reed
(http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Meditations/Bruised_Reed/bruised_reed.html)
Beautiful!!! Beautiful! I still find it more convinient for me to take it to the Lord in prayer.
ReplyDeleteI have learned from experience, that most people just don't have the gift of just listening. They are ready to point the finger, judge, or even criticize you. I just continue to take it to the Lord until He delivers me. I can trust God. No matter how long it takes--He has never failed me yet.
I never thought of listening as a gift, but a skill to be developed. Maybe it is a gift for some people. Your faith is admirable, and your comment is appreciated. Thanks~
DeleteJesus was also tested and tried as we are. He was question on everything He did for good. He was asked such simple things as why do your disciples pluck and eat corn on the Sabbath. Jesus had to remind them that David eat the showbread and gave it to his men also. He reminded them that” He was also the Lord of the Sabbath”. He entered the synagogue to teach the people and a man with a withered hand was there. He was also watched to see if he was going to heal on the Sabbath day so that certain ones could bring and "accusation against him". But what’s so great about Jesus, He knew their thoughts before speaking. "He told the man to Rise up and stand forth" "He asked them if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath days or to do evil? to save life or to destroy it”. The man stretch forth his hand and it was restored hold as the other". The people were filled with madness. Jesus was also hurt and vexed on every side; everywhere He went doing good, healing the sick, the broken and hearting.
ReplyDeleteTo restore himself, He had to go into the mountain to pray, all night continually, praying to God. Like us, He also needed to be restored by God after being drained by people who always questioned every good work He accomplished and ministered. Thus after praying all night he called and chose his twelve disciples. Perhaps he also needed those twelve, as friends to listen and experience the many challenges He encountered during his ministry. See St. Luke 6:1 thru 16 also see 2 Corinthians 4:1 thru 18 "We are troubled on every side... Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus...For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifested in our mortal flesh. Remember not to throw your pearl before swine, least they turn and rend you. Do not think it strange when you fall into various temptations, knowing that it is the testing of your faith. Be of good cheer He has overcome the World. Look- Up, your redemption draws nearer.
...all very true. Thanks for taking time to read and to share your view. But what about YOU? ;o)
Delete...and Amen~
ReplyDelete