Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion–
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

The Japanese and the English divide the sentences quite differently in these three verses, with the exception of the very last sentence, so I decided to include it all! The first part of this passage is of course what Jesus famously quoted in the synagogue in Nazareth, as recorded in Luke 4. As such it is of extreme importance to every Christian, because after His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) That means that this passage in Isaiah applies to every disciple of Jesus Christ! The Japanese translation tries to draw back from that idea a bit, in a subtle way, by writing the first person pronouns out in kana syllables rather than in the more compact character commonly used. This is a distinction used elsewhere to indicate that it is the Lord speaking, rather than some mere human being. I’m sure they did that because of Luke 4, but they were forgetting John 20:21! We are ALL to be about the business of preaching good news to the poor, and so on. The whole thing of leaving ministry to the “professionals” has crippled the Church down through the centuries! Luther taught “the priesthood of the believer,” but that was accepted partially, if at all, by most people. We like the idea that anybody can pray at any time, but we run from the idea that everyone is to hold themselves available for God to use them at any time. However, with privilege comes responsibility. Those who have access to the throne of God, that is, every believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, are to be God’s agents, sent from the throne of God to those around them, in all the ways mentioned in this passage. The average Christian runs from that idea like it was a bomb ready to blow up in their face! If all of God’s children realized what being a child of God really means, the world would be a very different place, and every difference would be for the better.

This is something I have realized with growing conviction for many years now, but I have had only spotty success in trying to communicate it to others. I can’t be sure, but I think some people have left this church over this very issue. They didn’t want to be held accountable for what they did with the grace of God poured out on them. I am no fan of workaholic Christianity. That has ruined many Christians, and churches. However Ephesians 2:8-10 not only says that we are not saved by works, but also that we are created to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do. The Bible is clear throughout that genuine faith is not passive! The same entitlement mentality that is poisoning society poisons the Church as well. We all need to say with Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord, Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Father, thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You that this church, small as it has been over the years, has birthed four pastors. However, I ask that every believer come alive to the joy of being Your agent in every facet of their lives. Help me be the equipper You call me to be (Ephesians 4:12) so that we may be fully effective in the work of Your kingdom, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!