“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
Today’s verses were first introduced by Isaiah (chapter 61) and then recalled again by Luke. They were words proclaiming a year of God’s favor – a year of Jubilee. The year of Jubilee was dedicated as a year of liberty; a year of restoration and freedom in Jewish culture. Debts were forgiven, land was returned to original owners, and Hebrew slaves and prisoners were set free. It was a time to express the mercy God had shown to His people, by His people. It was truly a time of celebration as those who were most in need of God’s mercy and grace received at the hands of the people around them.
What would it look like if we took those same words today and made them our own? What if we declared that God had appointed us to announce His freedom with great joy to the poor and to the hurting and then offered it to them with our actions? It would be pretty great, wouldn’t it?! I think that is exactly what God is calling us to do! We, who have experienced the freedom of His grace and forgiveness, have the power to show that same love and grace to the world around us. It’s a powerful message with tangible outcomes if we seek to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves…if we seek to protect, feed, and love those who have been overlooked. Let’s embrace these words for ourselves today and not just announce freedom in Christ, but work to offer it through the works of our hands.
LISTEN:Jubilee by Maverick City Music https://open.spotify.com/track/0DcteHHiSoPSwRqSnxz2p1?si=ccdf31a193ba48d1
Learn how to be a part of making a difference with Set Free in our community: https://crosscreekchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/379326
