Margaret Walker Writes

During a prayer meeting before the 6 o’clock gathering a couple of Sundays ago Mark reminded us of the divine exchange that is ours through faith in Christ.

After Christ had resisted the devil in the wilderness He was led by the Spirit out to Nazareth and went into the synagogue. There he stood up and quoted verses from the Prophet Isaiah 61 announcing to the people what would be the hallmarks of His ministry .

He said

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach Good News to the Poor, He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Transformation of people’s lives would be at the heart of Christ’s ministry – transformation from areas of difficulty, pain, disadvantage and weakness.

Restoration would be a sign that Christ was present. This Good News is for all of us, and all people.

The prophet Isaiah writes of beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.

Rebuilding, restoration and renewal are all at the heart of Christ’s ministry for individual lives – and should be evident in our lives and our awareness of ourselves as believers.

I think God is encouraging us to press into receiving all Christ can bring so our own lives bear the hallmarks of Christ’s presence with us.

Margaret Walker