RSS

Building One Another


E. Stanley Ott

A BRUISED REED Vol 9 No 37

November 9, 2010

Dear Friend,

When you are feeling a bit beat up in life where do you turn for help and hope?

 

I find great hope in this word, “He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.” Matthew 12:20 (see Isaiah 42:3)*

 

I remember my mentor in the faith, Jim Tozer, would frequently quote the French philosopher, Blaise Pascal, by saying, “Man is but a hollow reed, blowing in the wind,”  as a way of expressing the fragile nature of our lives.  It doesn’t take much wind and like fragile grass, over we go!

 

The actual quote from Pascal’s Pensées is, “Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature; but he is a thinking reed.”  Feeble we are and easily bruised and wounded.

 

One of the many joys that come of knowing Jesus, the Lord who loves us, is that when life is piling on and we are ricocheting from one stress point to another he is building us up!  We may trust in his word, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

 

“This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.”

 Psalm 34:6

               

With joy - E. Stanley Ott

Copyright 2010 E. Stanley Ott     

*Scripture from the NRSV