Isaiah 61:1-7
Reflect
In this passage, Isaiah declares a mission to bring a message of good news to God’s chosen people. The year of the Lord’s favour as opposed to a day of God’s vengeance. Isaiah declares a time of deliverance, and it will be a total deliverance. Around 700 years later Jesus will announce that this deliverance had been fulfilled (Luke 4:21). The imagery of Isaiah 61 describes a beautiful scene of healing and deliverance which includes rebuilding ruined cities, restoring dignity where there has been shame and replacing mourning with joy. Jesus completes a work that had been promised long before. And while one might have hoped for a physical freedom and rebuilding of towns, Jesus takes it so much further in that He frees those who are captive to sin and rebuilds not a ruined city but restores the hearts of people who have lost hope.
Apply
Through this Advent season as we remember those who waited to see the fulfillment of Isaiah’s declaration, will we receive the good news that Jesus has declared the year of the Lord’s favour in our lives as well. He was sent to finish the redeeming work declared centuries before and that redemption extends until the second Advent when He returns to bring us to Himself. Come Lord Jesus.
Pastor Mike
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and ministry.
- Pray for Eric Peters, Facility Manager; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards.
- Pray for our Church Board members: Barbara Whidden, Bee Stiansen, Cam Klapstein, Darryl Sparling, Gerhard Hiob, Julie Leverette, Marvin Schneider, Matt Barker, Matt Chute, Mike Pedde, and Nick Mitchell.
- Pray for our office staff: Robin Radke and Naomi Voss; Bookkeeper Lynette Carlson.