impinged

There is a joy, that can’t be described, that becomes a part of the fabric of our being when we come to know Jesus Christ personally. In church a few weekends ago, Joel, the worship leader, prayed asking God to quench the thirst within us. I thought, “No Lord, don’t quench my thirst, make me thirstier for you!” For it has only been in this development of a deep and unquenchable thirst that I have found peace and joy in my life. Despite any problems that arise, I have the confidence of an overwhelming joy. And I believe that is what these verses in Isaiah speak of. The beginning verses of this chapter tell what Jesus is going to do and then these verses tell the result. What an amazing thing to be able to rejoice in the in the Lord in your own life. What an amazing gift to be able to share it with others.

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Life isn’t fair. As Christ followers we will suffer. Maybe our suffering will be as persecution. Maybe our suffering will be in watching the wicked prosper while we struggle. Maybe it will be through the refiners fire as God molds us for his purpose. Or maybe we will suffer because of our own stupid mistakes. Suffice it to say, regardless of the reason, we will suffer. In spite of that, we still have our God and we know who he is. He loves justice and will reward his people for their faithfulness in suffering.

“Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed” Isaiah 61:9b

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Restoration. With the coming messiah also comes restoration. Jesus has come! Those who know him, and I mean know him not just a passive belief, find restoration of the desolation of generations.

What is more beautiful than our own restoration? Seeing others, whose lives are a mess, restored. It seems to be contagious: for when our own lives are healed we see the possibility for other to be healed and we want that for them. And so a revival starts - the energy of an unstoppable force.

In verse 6 the text says, “You shall eat the riches of Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.” I believe the riches are God’s creation, eating of them means to take in God’s people who don’t yet know him. Boasting in their glory is the celebration of seeing people saved.

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“To give them beauty for ashes” - I love this line in verse 3. On my own I made a terrible mess of my life. Last night I had a dream in which I was crying because of the tremendous guilt I was carrying for all the destruction I caused in my past. But the truth is, I don’t carry that guilt. Jesus has set me free and exchanged my ashes for beauty.

Isaiah is prophesying about the work of Jesus in this chapter. When Jesus begins his ministry by returning to the temple in Nazareth, he quotes these verses saying that this is why he has come. This is the work of Jesus in our lives and the work he want to do through us in other’s lives. This is the mission of the Christ follower, for if we follow him then he dwells in us and his mission becomes our mission. It is our mission to bring good news to the poor, to comfort the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom! I believe Jesus didn’t come to change the world: he came to change individuals so that we may change the world!

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