Isaiah wrote: 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, (Isaiah 61:1, 2). Jesus quoted this passage as evidence that He was the Messiah (Luke 4:18-21). Actually, when He read from that passage in Isaiah, He told His audience, gathered in the synagogue in Nazareth that Isaiah’s prophecy had just been fulfilled, meaning He was the One of Whom Isaiah spoke.
I would like you to consider just what it was that Isaiah said and that Jesus said was happening in His ministry. The afflicted would have good news brought to them. The brokenhearted would be bound (or supported and built back up). Captives and prisoners would have liberty proclaimed to them; they would be freed. Verse two seems to give us a grand overview of God’s relationship with mankind. The “favorable year” may have reference to the year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year) that Jews were given under the Law of Moses that allowed Jewish slaves to be free. So, God holds out freedom and vengeance to mankind and the rest of Scripture gives us the conditions by which those are meted out. And do not forget the comfort. Comfort is a major part of God’s relationship with man.
Jesus invited all who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Today, friend Barnabas would like to offer this bit of comfort. Trust Jesus and come to Him. Of course, it is necessary that we come to Him in the way He prescribes, but come to Him we may. And how comforting is it to realize that there, in Him, we may find comfort. Do not try to take on this world by yourself! Learn to rely on Jehovah God. He loves you, and so do I.
Donnie Bates
A peaceful spring on the Macedonian side of Lake Ochrid in the Balkan Mountains
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
"Do Not Fear For I Have Redeemed You!"
You know the feeling. A loved one has just undergone exploratory surgery and now the surgeon wants to visit with the family in a private room. The boss has sent down to your work station for and now you sit in the outer office, waiting to be called in. The principal has called your room and asked the teacher to send you to the office and the secretary has just gone in to tell him that you are here. You know the feeling, don’t you?
A few years ago, when I was working for a school district in Colorado as a school bus driver, I got back to the transportation office and there was a message waiting for me. The superintendent wanted to see me. I wondered what I had done. Did I unknowingly offend someone on the road, prompting them to call the school and complain? Had I missed someone’s child on my route? (Two school board members lived on my route and their children were some of my kids). As it turned out, the superintendent had been asked to teach a Sunday School class and he was looking for a verse and he knew I was also a preacher. What a relief, but what harrowing walk to his office!
When you face the things you will face this week, try to remember Isaiah’s words: But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:1, 2).
There have been other times when I have been summed to the office (literally or figuratively) when the news has not been so good. I wish someone had reminded me of these words then. I wish I had been reminded (or had remembered) these words that God loved me so and would be with me no matter what happened.
I know that when He says that when I pass through fire I will not be scorched, He means that in a spiritual way. I know that because I bear some of the scars (physical and emotional) of “fires” through which I have passed, but those fires have not scorched my spirit. In fact, they have made me stronger, as James said they would (James 1:2-4). So, when you head out the door to face the “fires” you may face today, do not forget these words, excerpted from Isaiah 43:3-5: “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you...Do not fear, for I am with you...” Yes, do not fear for God is with you and loves you and so do I.
Donnie Bates
A few years ago, when I was working for a school district in Colorado as a school bus driver, I got back to the transportation office and there was a message waiting for me. The superintendent wanted to see me. I wondered what I had done. Did I unknowingly offend someone on the road, prompting them to call the school and complain? Had I missed someone’s child on my route? (Two school board members lived on my route and their children were some of my kids). As it turned out, the superintendent had been asked to teach a Sunday School class and he was looking for a verse and he knew I was also a preacher. What a relief, but what harrowing walk to his office!
When you face the things you will face this week, try to remember Isaiah’s words: But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:1, 2).
There have been other times when I have been summed to the office (literally or figuratively) when the news has not been so good. I wish someone had reminded me of these words then. I wish I had been reminded (or had remembered) these words that God loved me so and would be with me no matter what happened.
I know that when He says that when I pass through fire I will not be scorched, He means that in a spiritual way. I know that because I bear some of the scars (physical and emotional) of “fires” through which I have passed, but those fires have not scorched my spirit. In fact, they have made me stronger, as James said they would (James 1:2-4). So, when you head out the door to face the “fires” you may face today, do not forget these words, excerpted from Isaiah 43:3-5: “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you...Do not fear, for I am with you...” Yes, do not fear for God is with you and loves you and so do I.
Donnie Bates
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