Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(ESV)
—Isaiah 61:1-3
by: Dorothy Noel.
These few verses of messianic prophesy point towards all the work Jesus came to do. While we still await His second coming, we can celebrate the work of salvation He has already accomplished. He proclaims liberty and frees captives, meaning He has taken away the power of those who have caused their imprisonment. This is not a onetime jailbreak however; this is an ongoing change to the way things are done—a complete paradigm shift. Jesus is in charge now, and we get to do it His way.
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