The Right Time

Thursday, December 25 2014

In a speech given during the commencement of a newly formed missions agency, my friend - who heads up the ministry - spoke of its mission and vision. He also gave everyone a clear picture of its goals and plans.

Similarly, at the start of His public ministry, our Lord Jesus gave an "inaugural message" in a synagogue in His hometown. He deliberately directed everyone´s attention to Isaiah´s prophecy concerning God´s Anointed One (Luke 4:16-20).

Nearly 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had spoken of the mission of the Messiah : "The Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor --- to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed ... to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord´s favour has come" (Isaiah 61:1-2). Isaiah 61 celebrates God´s grace in delivering the Jews from the Babylonian bondage, and proclaims God´s glory in restoring and blessing the Jews after their exile.

After reading this Scripture, Jesus publicly announced that He was the Messiah who had come : "The Scripture you´ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" (Luke 4:21). Jesus laid out His mission (vv. 18-19). He declared that God had sent Him to rescue us (Matthew 1:21), to heal all who are broken by sin (Psalms 34:18, 147:3), to set free those captured by Satan and enslaved in sin (John 8:32-36; Romans 6:6-8) and to restore and bless us (Ephesians 1:3).

Christmas is a reminder that "the time of the Lord´s favour has come" (Luke 4:19). And the apostle Paul reminds us not to reject "this marvellous gift of God´s kindness... indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). - K.T. Sim

Read
Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written : 

"THe Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord´s favor."

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of  everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Matthew 5:3-10

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, 

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, 

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Question to Ponder

God has shown you His favour. Have you received His gift of salvation?

If you are a believer, how has salvation in Jesus changed your life?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue