What a Calling!

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified…

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness...
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to sprout up before all the nations.

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
    and her salvation as a burning torch.” Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11; 62:1

What a calling the Lord has issued to His own! One who has experienced the Word’s transforming power and is therefore indwelt by His Spirit cannot help but overflow with the bounty and beauty of the new life he’s received. The Spirit of the Lord is powerful and in many ways irrepressible, yet an unyielding, pride-filled heart can quench His prodding. A pliable, willing believer who cherishes his salvation receives the Lord’s anointing as a stewardship of grace and blessing for the eternal benefit of others and ultimate glory of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

When I acknowledge I am poor, wretched, and blind, I cherish God’s amazing love and mercy. When I am broken-hearted over my sin offense against His holiness, and trust Christ’s atoning punishment on my behalf, I will sing of His freeing grace. The forgiveness I’ve received far beyond my deserving will express itself in generous forgiveness and an urgency to tell how to be released forever. (Matthew 6:12; Ephesians 4:32; Revelation 3:17)

What am I doing with the wealth of scriptural truth entrusted to me? What keeps me from exercising the Spirit’s anointing to proclaim eternal liberty and administer comfort? Is my heart cold from hurt, prejudice, or selfishness with my time and attention? Do I avoid or discount people as unworthy, or impossible, and withhold kindness and the best news? What need I confess and surrender for the Lord to stoke passion for others’ salvation?

How does my life detract from the balm, fragrance, or attractiveness of Christ? How might my attitudes or words be breaking the spirit of a child, dissuading an adult from identification with Christ, or robbing Him of His glory? What change will conviction yield? (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11; 2 Corinthians 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 4:6)

Lord, stir my heart embers of accountability to Your call. May I gratefully, gladly, and boldly proclaim Your grace and power, for others’ everlasting good and my Savior’s glory.