"HE Shall Not Break A Bruised Reed!"

People with sore and bruised hearts

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"When a woman who had lived a sinful 
life in that town learned that JESUS 
was eating at the Pharisee's house--
she brought an alabaster jar of perfume" 
Luke 7:37

It is wonderful how genuine goodness draws to itself . . .

  the unfortunate,

  the troubled,

  the friendless,

  the outcast,

  the fallen.

Wherever JESUS went--

these classes always found HIM

out and gathered about HIM.

It was because HE was the true,

unselfish friend of all men.

They found sympathy in HIM.

HE would listen to their story.

Though HE was the sinless ONE,

there was yet no air of "I am holier

than you" about HIM. HE was just

as gentle to an outcast sinner--

as to a religious Nicodemus.

No matter who reached

out a hand for help--

HE was ready to grasp it.

One of the truest things ever

said of JESUS, was the prophetic

word concerning him,

"HE shall not break a bruised reed!"

HE always dealt most gently with

sore spirits and with bruised hearts!

Those who want to be

useful in this world--

must have the same

qualities as JESUS.

There is a kind of false "holiness"

which draws nobody to itself--

but rather repels. Genuine holiness,

however, wins its way everywhere

into men's hearts.

The secret of it all, is in

living "not to be served--

but to serve;" in considering one's 

self not too good to serve the most 

unworthy of GOD'S creatures.

If we live in this world to be served--

we shall be of no use to anyone.

But if we live to minister to others,

yearning to be of service

to everyone we meet--

then our life will be of great worth.

The hungry-hearted and the soul-

needy will be drawn to us--

and GOD will love to put

work into our hands.

We need, too, to train ourselves 

to exceeding gentleness in dealing 

with human souls in their spiritual 

crises. Many earnest people, 

in the excess of their zeal--

do incalculable harm to those 

whom they greatly desire to help. 

People with sore and bruised hearts--

usually need loving sympathy and 

strong, kindly friendship--

much more than they need 

a lecture in theology!

"Come to ME, all you who are weary 
and burdened, and I will give you rest." 
Matthew 11:28

    
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GraceGems has published J.A. James' challenging article,
"Sorrow for the Death of Friends".