Let Me Be Frank… 6-4-20

1Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.  He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
Isaiah 42:1-4

 
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold…”  As I meditate on these words this week I am thankful for Jesus Christ.  He will bring justice to the nations.  He is at work in the hearts and minds of His people.  We must be willing to not only listen but to hear as He speaks to us in our current landscape.  And how does He uphold us?  A beautiful picture of mercy and strength is found in verse 3… the bruised reed and the faintly burning wick.  The bruised reed is close to the breaking point.  What can I do for those who are close to the breaking point?  Good intentions are not enough.  Words must be accompanied by actions, however small.  And what do I do when I am close to the breaking point?  Do I trust in God, knowing that He will not leave me broken?
 
And the faintly burning wick that has burned brightly for so long may be starting to dim.  We become weary from the fight.  But You are with us in the moments we feel faint.  Your breath, the breath of Life blows gently on the flame as it begins to burn brighter.  May we burn brightly for you.  May we respond as You work in our hearts. 
 
In the end we are left with a choice.  Sing to the Lord a new song or live in ignorance, indifferent to His work in our hearts.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost, He came to set the captives free.  Do I believe that He values the breaking and weary in me?  Sing to the Lord a new song – and May that song change my heart, change my perspective, as Christ’s redeeming and restoring love takes root. 
 
Bridges must be built.  Voices must be heard.  “He will faithfully bring forth justice.”  I’d like to leave you with another take on “Behold my servant whom I uphold.”  As a monarch is in procession at an Eastern court he leans upon his favorite courtier.  It is a person that the King can depend on.  God is counting on Jesus, trusting Him to fulfill all His promises!  Can God count on you?  Can he lean on you in such a way today?
 
The way forward may be difficult, but it is necessary.  Building bridges is rarely easy work, but God is in the business of building bridges.  May we be a people that He can depend on to carry out His work as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and redeemed by His Son.
 
We are Central… and we’re in this TOGETHER! 
SOLI DEO GLORIA
-F