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 (Leviticus 19:2 – Be
holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy), so also the kingdom of
God inches its way across the landscape and into the hearts of God’s children
(Matthew 6:10 – Your kingdom come, your will be done).
And the best part is that God allows us to participate in
his plan to bring righteousness and praise to the world (Acts 1:8 – …and
you will be my witnesses). It’s
more about who we are than
it is about what we say. We are God’s workmanship (NIV 1984, Ephesians
2:10) through whom he chooses to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 6:2).
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How can you participate in
sharing the good news of his favor this week?
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