Our flesh, the world, and Satan are continually attempting to bring us down, to discourage and tear down what The Lord has wrought in our lives. But through the gentleness of God, through the meekness of Christ, we can take refuge; we can safely hope in our God, who desires to build us up and whose thoughts toward us “cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” [Psa 40:5] and “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand…” [Psa 139:17-18]

The Lord has precious and innumerable thoughts about each of us individually; “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” [Jer 29:11] We can safely trust in Him. Our Savior is meek and gentle. Jesus Himself tells us,

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is well-fitting, and my burden is light." [Mt 11:29-30] 

Because our Savior is meek and lowly in heart, we can increase in sanctification and purity, moving toward “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” [Eph 4:13]. We see this in the psalms: David says to The LORD, “Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy mercy/lenience/gentleness hath made me great.” [Psa 18:35] It is the Father’s mercy/lenience/gentleness, which allows us to grow. Jeremiah reminds us, “it is of The LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.”

If our Lord Jesus did not show us compassion, we would be consumed! Praise His Name that He is so gentle with us; that even if we are the weakest of reeds, near to breaking; even if we are the faintest of flames, smoldering from lack of oxygen; yes, even then our dearest Jesus will not break us nor extinguish us. He so desires for us be overflowing with hope, joy, peace, and love; and according to His promise to complete the good work which He started in us, He gently builds us up.

"A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoldering wick of a lamp shall He not extinguish." [Isa 42:3, Mt 12:20]

He shows great pity in His tender care for us. David says again,

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so The LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." [Psa 103:13-14]

What a wonderful God we have. He deserves our worship; He deserves our lives!

"Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise Thee with the psaltery, even Thy truth, O my God: unto Thee will I sing with the harp, O Thou Holy One of Israel." [Psa 71:19-22]

CONCLUSION

Jesus doesn’t desire to crush you; He doesn’t desire to extinguish your smoldering zeal that may have once been great. Jesus desires to heal you, to gently fan your flame.

The offer to be built up by the meekness and gentleness of Christ is open today. There is no promise of tomorrow, so come to the feet of Jesus today. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” [Heb 3:7-8]