38 lines
4.3 KiB
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38 lines
4.3 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 2
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<h1>God Promising a Unique King</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>A bruised reed <b>He will not break</b>, and smoking flax <b>He will not quench</b>; <b>He will bring forth justice</b> for truth. <b>He will not fail</b> nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 42, '3-4');">Isaiah 42:3-4</a>)</div>
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<p>Again, the promises of God cascade forth, one upon another. <i>"<b>He will not break</b>…<b>He will not quench</b>…<b>He will bring forth</b> …<b>He will not fail</b>."</i> This set of four promises confirms <b>a unique King</b> for the people of God. His uniqueness is seen in how He would deal with <b>bruised reeds</b> and <b>smoking flaxes</b>, as well as in the <b>justice</b> He would eventually establish upon the earth.</p>
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<p>Many times, people are like bruised reeds. God has created humanity to be innately vulnerable, like reeds that grow by the river. <i>"As for man, his days are <b>like grass</b>; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For <b>the wind passes</b> over it, and <b>it is gone</b>, And its place remembers it no more"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 103, '15-16');">Psalm 103:15-16</a>). At best, reeds are not strong. When they are bruised, they hang over limp and helpless. It is easy for an insensitive person to break a human "bruised reed" in half, virtually destroying that life. Jesus, the unique King, does not do that. <i>"A bruised reed <b>He will not break</b>."</i> The Lord Jesus can take bruised reeds and turn them into mighty spiritual trees. <i>"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to <b>heal</b> the <b>brokenhearted</b>… to <b>console</b> those who <b>mourn</b> in Zion, to give them <b>beauty</b> for <b>ashes</b>, the oil of <b>joy</b> for <b>mourning</b>, the garment of <b>praise</b> for the spirit of <b>heaviness</b>; that they may be called <b>trees of righteousness</b>, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 61, '1-1');">Isaiah 61:1</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Isa', 61, '3-3');">3</a>).</p>
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<p>At other times, people are like smoking flax (a dimly burning wick). Their spiritual fire of hope or zeal is flickering, ready to burn out. A rough or blustering person can easily extinguish the meager spark that remains. Once again, Jesus is unique. He can gently fan that flickering wick, even fueling it back into a spiritual blaze. The disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced that. <i>"Did not our heart <b>burn within us</b> while <b>He</b> talked with us on the road, and while <b>He</b> opened the Scriptures to us?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 24, '32-32');">Luke 24:32</a>).</p>
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<p>Ultimately, His uniqueness shall be demonstrated when He sets up His kingdom on earth. Then, after man has brought forth injustice after injustice, true justice will be established throughout this world. <i>"<b>He will not fail</b> nor be discouraged, till He has <b>established justice in the earth</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, I honor You as my unique King. No one but You could have dealt with my heart when I was the bruised reed and the dimly burning wick. No one but You can properly reverse the injustices that I have both perpetrated and endured. I bow to You, asking that You make me more like You, in Your name, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/07/0701.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/07/0703.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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