Continued from Page Two . . .
 woman started coming to a Bible study several years ago. She came because something about the people who invited her made her curious. She had an interesting background. At one time she had worked with a group of counterfeiters. They would buy counterfeit twenty-dollar bills and then go on a route, a different one every time, and make small purchases using the twenty-dollar bills. They would pocket the change and that's how they made their money.
 One day this woman couldn't go with them on their route. It just so happened that it was on that day that someone tipped the police, and the group was arrested, except for this woman.
Well, her friends thought that it was she who had tipped the police. And one of them promised that he would get her when he got out of prison. So her life was never free from the fear of this threat. Meanwhile, she married, and had a child. And she continued to fear for herself and her family.
To make a long story short, she became a Christian at this Bible study. You see, Jesus is still a collector of bruised reeds, of burnt wicks. And when he saw her coming, he didn't push her out of the way to get to someone healthier, someone who had lived a good life, who had no bruises. He took her and brought her into his kingdom, and she found peace.
She still feared that the person who had threatened her would one day find her again. Until she received a package in the mail, containing a Bible, and a tract, and a note telling her not to worry,
"I became a Christian while in prison, and I want the same for you."
Most do not understand that Jesus came for
 people like this woman. Most do not understand that Jesus came to restore bruised reeds, and set aglow once again burnt wicks. No matter how bruised, no matter how burnt.
There may be some of you who are feeling bruised, feeling burnt by life. We even have an expression: 'burnt out'. If so, know that Jesus came that you might have life, that he might mend your
bruised state, that he might renew you, and fill you with the Spirit of the living God.
Would you pray with me?
"Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your
servant Jesus. Thank you for sending him to collect bruised reeds and burnt wicks. Thank you that he is here among us even now, ready to heal, to soak us in your Spirit, to bring us new life, to restore our souls. Thank you
Father. Look upon us now, and open our eyes, that we might see this wonderful truth from your word. In the name of your son, in the name of Jesus,
we pray. Amen."
Conclusion of Bruised and Dimly Burning
Back to Devotionals
|
