Sunday, October 9, 2011

October 10, 2011

Serving is at the heart of the priestly role. Through poetic prophecy Isaiah challenged Israel to take on the priestly role they were called to embody. We, too, can learn from wat he said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners." (Isaiah 61:1)

Jesus Christ read from this text at the synagogue in Nazareth and declared, "Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled." (Luke 4:21) As followers of Christ, these same ministries are also our priestly calling; to share the good news of salvation, to minister to the hurting to make God's love more real to the world.

The prophet Isaiah was speaking to Israel when he reminded them, "You will be called the Lords priests; they will speak of you as ministers of our God." (Isaiah 61:6)

Isaiah also prophecied about the good news of salvation being meant for more that the nation of Israel. As Isaiah gave God;s message concering Jesus and the fulfillment of this priestly prophecy, he said, "It is not enough for you to be My servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring to the protected ones of Israel. I will also make of you a light for the nations, to be My savation to the ends of the earth," (Isaiah 49:6)

To be God's priests is a calling for all of us to serve all people, to the eand of the earth. Serving others is how we obey God's Word, embrace His mission, and embody His name - the role of a priest.