Isaiah 42:1-9
“I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,” vs. 6
Isaiah lays out the role of the Suffering Servant quite clearly in these amazing passages written some 500 years before Jesus. It’s obvious from the context of these verses that the prophet identifies Israel with the Servant, but following Jesus’ resurrection his followers saw in these words a perfect description of his ministry. In our time it takes little imagination to apply this same verse to the Church. Truly this is who we are as the followers of Jesus. Called by God to be a holy people, we have been given to the nations of the world as a promise and a light. In us God’s redemptive word is to be seen and heard…we are the good news, the contemporary presence of Christ, sanctified and sent to bring healing and mercy to millions of hurting, hungry people. We are the antidote to fear, terror, and suicide bombs, a balm that soothes souls and calms anxious hearts. Those who say that the church is obsolete fail to understand its Spirit-filled power to adapt and adjust. We have a God-given capacity and responsibility to offer our gospel message in a multitude of forms and models. A world full of sinners will always need the good news of forgiveness and hope. That will never change! Our call never ends!
Thought for the Day: What evangelism methods are best for our time?
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