WHAT can be more worthless than a bruised reed or weaker than a piece of smoking flax? And yet it is written of Christ: “a bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench” (Isa. 42:3); and how beautifully the Lord illustrated this fact by His death! Not only did He die to put away the sins of sinners, but in the act of dying He saved the dying thief. “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom,” said the poor outcast, bruised and weak, with his eyes all but glazed in death, dying for his own sin.
“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise,” was the loving reply.
He did not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning flax. No; the most perfect and holy Being that ever lived is the most infinitely perfect in His love, tenderness, and sympathy for the ruined and lost. He will not despise nor reject those who are weak under the power of temptation, nor cast out the worst who have been crushed and broken, defiled and made useless by actual sin. To all such He still speaks, and invites them as “weary and heavy laden” to come to Him for deliverance and rest. For such He bled and died, that He might heal and make them whole.
Oh, listen to His words, ye bruised and broken ones. He invites you to come; come and rest upon His blood for cleansing, His death and resurrection for justification, His Spirit to sanctify and make you whole. Come at once; come as you are, in your true character; as sinful, worthless, broken, deserving only hell. Come renouncing all hope in self, and trusting only in Christ for your acceptance with God, and He will save you; your little spark of hope He will fan into a flame of joy through a full and free forgiveness and blessed assurance of interest in His love and work; and where you are most weak, He will by His grace make you most strong to resist and overcome all sin. And oh, ye consciously bruised, doubting and fearing ones, hear the loving word of Christ to you. He says He will not break you; then He will receive and heal you. Be content to come to Him in your true character as bruised and broken, and receive the full and free salvation He invites you to take, and rejoice in His love. Come, then, to Christ just as you are.
Just as thou art, with all thy fears,
Making no merit of thy prayers,
Nor trusting in thy cries and tears,
O sinner, hear and come!
Dream not that better thou wilt be,
But come at once, to Jesus flee,
He loves to save, and why not thee? ―
O sinner hear and come!
Oh, come, believe, oh, trust and live,
Freely thy sins Christ will forgive,
All thou canst need He waits to give,
O sinner, hear and come!
B.F.N