“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..;
to comfort all who mourn;..
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.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations…
“For I the Lord… will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
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.” Isaiah 61:1-4,7-11
Isaiah’s description of God’s anointing points first to its Source, the Spirit of the Lord Himself. He it is who calls and equips for His work through His people in His world. His motive is mercy to the poor, broken, bound, and blind, and His message is favor, comfort, freedom, and healing. This good news has power to redeem, fulfilling itself and its purpose that the Lord be glorified. All His works reflect His grace, might, and majesty so His beauty is displayed.
By love and grace and salvation’s covering, we carry His anointing. From Eden’s command to be fruitful and multiply to present life under the sun, we have a charge to keep. Carry and deliver good news! Speak the Word that imparts life and fruit! Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and we have the responsibility and privilege of glorifying Him by sharing that news and unleashing its transformative power. (Genesis 1:27-28; Isaiah 52:7-9; 55:10-11; Luke 19:10; Romans 10:14-15; Ephesians 2:8-10)
Do we see the spiritually needy? Are we compassionate for their lost estate? Are we more prone to criticize, castigate, and condemn than we are to long for their deliverance and participate in allaying their ignorance?
Only a grateful awareness of the Lord’s immeasurable grace to us will convict of cold-heartedness and inform and motivate bold telling. We must recognize and cherish Christ’s mercy and imparted righteousness to desire others be so adorned. Personal deliverance from sin and self is fuel for desiring the same in others.
How are we utilizing God’s anointing? To whom will we announce and explain the gospel this week? How is our witness showcasing His glory?
Lord, may I proclaim Your good news with bold gladness so You are exalted through its power.
As the rain and snow 