Just What We Are Here For  Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1 – 2a

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’S favor has come…”

It was the Sabbath day and Jesus was in Nazareth, the place where he grew up as a young boy. As usual Jesus was in the synagogue and he was given the Scriptures to read. After reading from this prophecy in Isaiah concerning the coming of the Messiah, Jesus rolled up the scroll, looked up at those in attendance and declared that He was God’s sent One. The people were so enraged that they wanted to kill Him, but God pressed pause when the raging crowd tried to push Jesus off of a cliff for blasphemy, and Jesus walked right through them.

However, this is exactly what Jesus did for all of His earthly time, bringing the Good News of God’s grace to those who were poor in spirit. Comforting those who were broken by sin and the pains of this world. Declaring that those bound by the chains of bondage would be set free. Letting people know that the favor of God can be upon them if they would only follow Jesus and see that indeed He is the One sent from God to bring forgiveness and everlasting life to all who would call upon His holy name. It was only later that Jesus gave His life on the cross, but then God raised Him from the dead and now we can be restored to the Father through faith in the Son. This is the Good News of the Gospel!

Yes, this is exactly what Jesus came for and my sister and brother and this too is, ‘Just What We Are Here For’! To testify to the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and He is indeed risen from the dead. To look for those people and places that God is placing in our pathway to make the Gospel of Jesus known to the ends of the earth. Finally, to be willing to share our stories of restoration and forgiveness because of all that Christ Jesus has done for us with those who are bound up, broken and weighed down by the burden of sin, in order that they too might believe and receive the gift of everlasting life.

For it is the One and the same Holy Spirit that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead that dwells in the hearts and lives of each one of us who have called upon His name. Our joy is to point others to Jesus Christ our living and loving Lord, and witness the miracle of the new birth transform them too from death to life!

 

Prayer My Father in heaven, how I thank-You for the abiding Person and presence of the Holy Spirit in my heart and life. Make me more like Jesus I pray in all that I do and say that others may come to know forgiveness and restoration through my willing sacrifice I pray in His holy name.

Memory Verse: Psalm 51:12 “_______ to ___ the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”