Good Morning Girls
Read Luke 4:14-19 SOAP Luke 4:18-19
God's heart beats for the down-trodden, as seen in these prophetical verses. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61:1,2 as he reads scripture in the temple. There are several pictures of redemption here: good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, and liberty to the oppressed. The original passage in Isaiah includes, "binding up the broken-hearted."
The gospel is designed to completely transform our lives. It does not leave us to wallow in our sin and despair. Our sinful natures can sometimes cause us to be disgusted by the needy. Or perhaps we look at them disdainfully, knowing that their poor choices have led them to places of despair. But God absolutely loves the needy! He had them in mind when he formed the salvation plan. May we also see the world through His eyes, having compassion on those who desperately need salvation. People are slaves to sin, but Christ came to free the slaves!
Comment below
I also think of the verse regarding recovering sight to the blind. I know Jesus literally opened the eyes of the blind, but metaphorically, this is just as pertinent. I pray for sight in my own eyes. To see as Jesus would have me to see. It is my first thought to pray for others that are blind. But then I realize, what about me? Do I see what God intends?
ReplyDeleteOpen my eyes, God, that I may see. Give me words from your holy scripture, that you used yourself while on earth, to reach those that need your grace and love.
Great insight here.
DeleteI like where it says "he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." (KJV) One might read that and think, "me? preach? I don't think so! Definitely not my job. " but in the ESV version, it says "proclaim". Yes, that is my job. It is all of our jobs to proclaim the goodness of Christ. We are all anointed. We are all chosen.
ReplyDeleteI love how Bible studies can intertwine...I am currently doing Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" on Tuesday nights and this reference in Isaiah was one of our first memory verses.
ReplyDeleteAs I was doing my SOAP, I was reminded again of how God wants to work through me and of my responsibility for spreading the gospel to all. I know it begins with the world being able to see God at work in my life.
Brandy's post made me think of a comment Randy has made often and I have heard others say "God Cleans His Own Fish". It is not up to us to whip them into shape. We are here to lead them to Christ and to mentor and support them after they make the move to accept him. Fawn's comment "People are slaves to sin" is so true. Thanks be to God that he did come to free the slaves!
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts about discipleship, Amy!
DeleteWell said!
ReplyDelete