“The LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted.”

Isaiah 61:1-9, THE Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. But you will be called the priests of the LORD; you will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the LORD, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them because they are the offspring whom the LORD has blessed.

Jesus proclaimed that He is the fulfillment of this promise. The crowd did not accept Him, and was intent upon throwing Him from a cliff! His kingdom is not of this world; He calls us to be His priests and ministers even in the face of trouble and persecution. He is the one that we can turn to who brings us good news and binds up our broken hearts! He has set us free from the captivity of sin and death!

We thank You that we live in Your favor and can freely approach Your throne of grace that we might receive mercy in our time of need; empower us to do Your will today, O Lord!