Tag: salt and light

Here in this passage we see the mission of Messiah.  What is it?

First, to display the splendor of God.  To show Israel who God really was.  (Isaiah 49:3) 

That’s what Jesus did, for he was God in human flesh. 

Colossians 1 puts it this way,

He is the image of the invisible God…God was pleased to to have all his fullness dwell in him.  (Colossians 1:15, 19)

Second, he was to be a light to the Gentiles, and bring salvation not only to Israel, but to the ends of the earth. (6)

Third, he was to be a covenant for the people.  Before Jesus died, he had dinner with his disciples, and after dinner, he took the wine, and said,

This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)

And again,

[It] is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.  (Mathew 26:28)

The first covenant under the law of Moses was dependent on the obedience of the people to God’s law. 

But with the new covenant, our salvation comes by faith in Christ and his work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Finally, Messiah would

say to the captives “Come out,” and to those in darkness, “Be free!”  (9)

Jesus himself said of his mission,

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.  (Luke 4:18)

In other words, to those held captive to sin and to Satan’s kingdom, Jesus brings freedom.

But here’s the thing.  While Jesus did the initial work on the cross, he now sends his Spirit into the hearts of all believers that they may bring his work to completion.

Namely, we are called to spread the gospel throughout our land and to the whole world. 

As He dwells in us, he speaks through us and acts through us to touch the world around us.  He calls us to go out with his message of salvation and freedom.  To call out to the people, “Come out” and “Be free!”

Are you doing that?

Sometimes, we get discouraged, wondering if the work we do for God is bearing any fruit.  Sometimes, our message seems to fall on deaf ears.  Messiah said the same thing.

I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain, and for nothing.  (Isaiah 49:4)

But then he said to himself, and to us,

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.  (4)

No work that you do for God will go unrewarded.  Even if you can’t see the fruit immediately, God is working.  So as Paul said,

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  (Galatians 6:9)

May you be salt and light to the people around you today.