Oaks of Righteousness

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Isaiah was a prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus and His ministry.  His words here proclaim that Jesus will restore the brokenhearted, bring liberty to captives and prisoners, care for those who mourn, strength the weak and powerless, and bring the good news to all so they may become righteous in God's sight.  

Jesus read this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:18-19).

Even more important is that Jesus did all this and more.   

So, what has this to do with us?  It is model for our own ministries.  We can work on becoming more sensitive to the needs of those around us and showing compassion for their difficulties and celebrating their joys with them, all in the name of Jesus.  

And, by doing this and because of the power of God, people will find Jesus and become oaks of righteousness. 

Please Your Neighbor

 

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.   

 

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."  

 

Romans 15:1-3

I think Paul was talking about helping others, even if we think they don't deserve help.

This means taking time to talk to someone who is having a tough time.  It is not for us to judge whether or not another person’s problems are of their own making or not, but rather a matter of showing compassion.

When we act with compassion, we build up the kingdom of God.

Fight The Good Fight

 

I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.  

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to controversy.  He was frequently punished for his faith being beaten and jailed and tradition has it that he was beheaded by Nero.  To say he had a tough life is to put it mildly.

But, Paul never stopped preaching the truth of the Gospel.  In this scripture Paul reminds us to do the work of an evangelist - preaching the truth of the Gospel even if there are those who oppose our teachings preferring to be coddled by those who teach false doctrines.  

We are to preach the word and be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction, so that no one can say they did not know the truth.

We fight the good fight to bring truth and salvation to others so that when we stand for judgement before God we will receive the crown of righteousness.  

Fight the good fight. 

Forgive And Be Forgiven

 

Jesus said, “When you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you, your transgressions.” 

Mark 11:25

Forgiveness is not easy.  By nature, when we are wronged, we want to get even or at least be angry.  This anger can be misplaced on other people.  We yell at people we love and neglect to show affection where it is due because we are angry about something that has nothing to do with the people who we are dealing with.  Not forgiving results in us sinning against others.

There is no sin too big for God to forgive, so who are we to decide there are sins too big for us to forgive?  Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was right, it means that we are unburdening ourselves of it. 

Perhaps as we pray each day for our families, loved ones, and concerns, we should also pray for those who we need to forgive and forgive them, if not for their sake, then for our own sake.

We Are Blessed

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

God blesses us for doing what is right in His sight.   

 

When we are not feeling victorious, we can rest upon this promise. 

 

We may not see the blessing, but it is coming.   

  

 

The Name Which Is Above Every Name

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Philippians 2:5-11 

 

No one will escape this truth, Jesus is the name which is above every name.

God Has Work For You To Do

 

...For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

It happens, people walk away from God.  Perhaps it is because of persecution or sin or life circumstances or difficult people or any of a hundred other reasons.  Sadly, this may be us.

But God does not let us just walk away, He stands, ready and waiting for us because He has called us and He has plans for us, and although we may think our ministry is over, with God nothing is ever over. Those who God calls are His and He will not relinquish them.

If you are standing at a distance from God, come back to Him. He is waiting. His gifts and call for you are irrevocable. God has work for you to do.