For as the
soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the
Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations (Isaiah 61:11).The prophet paints a beautiful picture of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. As natural as the growth of a new plant will be the growth of his kingdom (righteousness, peace and joy – Romans 14:17) overflowing the nations. And how will God’s righteousness spread to the nations? Through conquest? Through domination?
By preaching good
news to the poor, by binding up the brokenhearted, by proclaiming freedom for
the captives, by releasing those prisoners held in darkness, and by proclaiming
the year of the Lord’s favor (61:1,2).
Just as
holiness is part of God’s DNA, and our birthright as his children – Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am
holy (Leviticus 19:2) – so also the kingdom of God inches its way across
the landscape and into the hearts of God’s children – Your kingdom come, your will be done – (Matthew 6:10).
And the best
part is that God allows us to participate in his plan to bring righteousness
and praise to the world (…and you will be
my witnesses. – Acts 1:8). It’s
more about who we are than it is about what we say. We are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) through whom he chooses
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
How will you share the
good news of God’s favor this week?
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