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 spread 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 (Isaiah 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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