A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

CHRIST IS YOUR HOPE      

Matthew 12:17-21 “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He has brought justice through to victory. In His name the nations will put their hope.’” 

In today’s devotional verses, Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-4. Matthew quoted these words to show that Jesus Christ came into the world in fulfillment of these Old Testament words. God chose His Son Jesus, to perform the Messianic (promised one) work. God placed His Spirit upon His Son to enable His human nature to do the work of salvation of Jew and Gentile alike. 

St. Paul wrote concerning the spiritual condition of Jews and Gentiles at the time of the arrival of the Messiah into the world: “Jews (demanded) signs and Greeks (looked) for wisdom, but Christ (was) a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles . . .” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23) Nevertheless, Jesus was not deterred from His Messianic task.   

Although the audience for His ministry was “. . . A bruised reed . . . and a smoldering wick” He did not “snuff it out.” Instead, Jesus brought compassion to them seeing them as sheep without a shepherd. He came to serve the sheep as their Shepherd (see John 10) to lead them to “. . . green pastures and quiet waters.” (see Psalm 23)   

When Jesus appeared and to this very day the heathen find nothing that can save them. Their only hope is Jesus Christ. The lost and those who had no hope cried out to Jesus while on earth, “Lord have mercy upon us.” The hopeless and helpless continue to cry out with these same words. Hope is found only in Jesus Christ and no one else. He alone saves. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, grant me faith in Jesus for this life and the life to come. In His holy name. Amen. 

My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior Divine.  
Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away;   
O let me from this day Be wholly Thine! 

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart;  
My zeal inspire! As Thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to Thee  
Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire! 

While life’s dark maze I tread And griefs around me spread,  
Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day,  
Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside. 

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream  
Shall o’er me roll, Blest Savior, then, in love,   
Fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!

My Faith Looks Up to Thee // LSB