We all like a good deal! We come away thinking we have benefitted. If you want a good deal, you can’t beat what Christ offers. Isaiah 61 is a beautiful declaration of what Christ has to offer today. He is able to offer these spiritual blessings because “the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (Christ), 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” Isaiah 61:1.
“Good News to the Afflicted.” There are people all around us who have been afflicted, including some of you who are reading these words. Others may not know about your affliction, but God does. Christ has good news for you about that affliction. Have you poured out your heart about your affliction?
“Bind Up the Brokenhearted.” For some of you your family has broken your heart. Your children didn’t turn-out as you desired. Your spouse has not treasured you the way you thought he/she would before you married. Your family has forsaken you. You’ve failed at a goal you wanted to reach. There are any number of reasons people’s hearts have been broken. Christ can put your broken heart back together if you will give Him all pieces.
“Proclaim Liberty to Captives and Freedom to Prisoners.” Sin has the ability to imprison us. The captivity of bad habits have strong shackles which seem impossible for us to break. Maybe we can’t, but He can. We sometimes are prisoners of our guilt and can’t seem to forgive ourselves. He can cleans the conscience (Hebrews 9:14). “It is for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1.
“The Lord Has Anointed Me…to Comfort All Who Mourn” Isaiah 61:2. Grief may be caused from many different things. It may be the death of a loved one. It may be the struggle to make a living. It may come from personal attacks against us. It may come from being rejected. It may be due to health issues we are facing. Christ has a good deal for that! “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” I Peter 5:7. He also said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30. Have we cast our care on Him? Have we shared the yoke of our burden by getting into His yoke? Have we taken it to His throne? “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16.
Don’t we like good deals? Have we accepted the great deals Christ has offered? We will not find any better deal! He can help us physically and spiritually! Accept that good deal before it’s too late!
Wayne Burger