The Bruised and Smoldering

Matthew 12:20 - "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory."

I like this verse that speaks of Jesus' character. Jesus does not seek to condemn us. He wants to help us come to victory in Him. Those who have been bruised by sin and life situations, He is their to strengthen and encourage. Those who have stumbled in their walk with Christ, He is their to pick them up and brush them off. Those who have come out of the fires of life and who are all messed up, He heals their burns and restores them to full health.

I think so often in the church, we minister to the strong but not the weak. We are often drawn to the strong, but not the weak. Those who have all kinds of emotional baggage and often bad character and habits, we marginalize. We throw to the side or ignore as much as possible. It was once said by someone that it is only the church who kills its wounded. Often those in the church stomp on those who are down. We often snuff out those who are barely hanging on. Our call as believers is to shore up the bruised reed and to bring life back to the fire that is smoldering.

We are not called to judge others. God will judge all when he comes.