March 6
"And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee...and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read...the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and he came on the place where it is said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."...And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
-Luke 4:14-21 (RSV)
In a world of bad news it is unexpected to hear good news. Yet Jesus world was much like ours, a world in which violence abounded, war was rampant, poverty was common, many politicians and rulers were corrupt and heavy taxes oppressed most. However, when Jesus came forth from his experience in the wilderness, the Bible tells us he went to his local synagogue and proclaimed God had sent him to announce GOOD News in very bad times. This Good News means hope for those who have all but lost hope as the oppressed can now be liberated, the broken hearted healed, the power of sin broken, freedom restored to the oppressed, and sight to the spiritually blind.
What does the Good News of God mean for a person who hears it? It means the Kingdom of God has already arrived! These powerful words spoken by Jesus proclaim the core of his ministry by assuring us God's Messiah has come to break the power of evil and usher in God's personal reign on earth. Jesus' words remain Good News today because they still offer freedom, healing, justice, and hope to any person who needs restoration, security, liberation from oppression, or release from whatever may be holding us captive in our lives. Claim the Good News of Christ for your life today! It is more powerful than any Bad News can ever be.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Good News you are offering me now to bring me freedom from oppression! Amen.
Meditation For The Day: God's news is always good.
Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)
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