Verse of the Day 3/24

 

Luke 4:18-19  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 proclaim freedom to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today's verse comes from the read through the Bible plan that I'm following.  Jesus had come through his testing in the wilderness and was about to begin his earthly ministry.  In the temple he reads today's verses from the scroll, the book of Isaiah and sets the tone and conveys the purpose of his ministry.  It is a theme that he would return to many times during his ministry.

 

Take a look at the things he came to do, think of each of these in physical and spiritual terms;

• preach good news to the poor - not doom and gloom, not false hopes, but true good new
• proclaim freedom to the captives, not more rules and regulations, not pre-requisites to join his fellowship
• recovery of sight - new light and life, light instead of foreboding and darkness,
• lifting of oppression - rest from the onslaught
• not just a day of the Lord's blessing, or a year of jubilee, but a time of deliverance into a new era

What are the things that might be holding you or a friend who is captive, oppressed, poor or blinded by circumstances in their lives?  What can you do in leading, pointing someone to Jesus?

 

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,   	snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;   	weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,   	tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.   Refrain:   	Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;   	Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 4:17-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He 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^[a]
to proclaim freedom^[b] to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.