THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS ON ME

Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. (WEB)

This is the passage of Scripture that Jesus read out aloud in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21) when He announced His public ministry. If you ever want to know what the heart of God is for you, just read Isaiah 61. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor. His heart was to bind up the heart of every hurting person and to set free those who are in bondage.

Just at it was two thousand years ago, Jesus proclaims liberty to the captives and He opens every locked prison cell with the power of His love. No matter what enslaves you, the power of God will set you free!  My prayer today is that the love of God would comfort all who mourn.  I pray that we would all receive beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.

The good news of the gospel is really good news! Jesus was sent by His Father to set every one of us free from all that keeps us captive. May each one of us know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are truly living in the year of the Lord's favor every day of our lives.

Luke 4:16-21
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (WEB)