Isaiah 42:3

THESE ARE THE TIMES that try men's souls. The Spirit has spoken expressly that in the latter times some should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Those days are upon us and we cannot escape them; we must triumph in the midst of them, for such is the will of God concerning us.

Strange as it may seem, the danger today is greater for the fervent Christian than...

For Reading and Meditation:     Isaiah 42:1-9

What is the first thing we learn about God as we open up the Scriptures? It is His might and omnipotence. The Bible never argues that there is a God; everywhere it assumes and asserts the fact. Majestically the opening verse of Scripture says: "In the beginning God –" Its paramount concern is not to persuade us that God...

"A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench." Isaiah 42:3

Then I may reckon upon tender treatment from my LORD. Indeed, I feel myself to be at best as weak, as pliant, as worthless as a reed. Someone said, "I don't care a rush for you"; and the speech, though unkind, was not untrue. Alas! I am worse than a reed when it grows by the river, for that at least can hold up its head. I am bruised —...

It will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious. § I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the Lord their God. § I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,...

The Helper, the Holy Spirit. § Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? § It is God who works in you.We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.He knows our frame; He remembers...

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. § You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. § The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then . . . Peter went out and wept bitterly.Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should...

Peter followed Him at a distance. § Among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. § The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. § A bruised reed.He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench. § Faith as a mustard seed.God...

A bruised reed He will not break. § He restores my soul.Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. § No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. § After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our...

The meekness and gentleness of Christ.A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” … And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your...