December 23

Isaiah 61.

This is the text that Jesus reads at the inauguration of his ministry, an open statement that this is what he is about and why he came:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn,
to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
festive oil instead of mourning,
and splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees,
planted by the Lord
to glorify him."

Isaiah 61:1-3

This night, before the eve of Christmas read these 3 simple verses again.  Look carefully at what Jesus was coming to do, can you see a need in your life for his work?  Where are you at tonight?  Do you need good news?  Do you hope that your heart might indeed heal from its dark wounds? That  chains to habitual sin would be broken?  To hear words of hope...that this year will be full of the Lord's favour?  Comfort?  Honour?  Shame taken away?  That joy might replace mourning?  Despair wiped clean and replaced with a life clothed with purpose?  To belong, to be known and to be given a purpose  by the Lord...to glorify him?  This is what Jesus came for, made possible through his blood and his sacrifice, but this passage is deeply personal and relevant to anyone who has longed for God's hand to work on their behalf.  Take a moment, read the verses again but this time prayerfully ask the Lord to do his great work in your soul, this day, this night, this season...so that you might again experience what it is like to be planted by Him to glorify Him!