Salvation

“’The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  

because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners 

and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,  

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor’” (Luke 4:18-19). 

Jesus spoke these life-giving words as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah come to set his people free. They needed a Savior.  

We do, as well. As we pray for the persecuted, prisoners, the isolated and the fearful in the month of November, and for the salvation of our world in the month of December, we realize that this same good news and freedom that Jesus spoke of is available for us in our difficult situations today. Whether people are being persecuted, are physically in a prison, or find themselves in a mental or emotional prison, we can pray for them to know our Savior, who brings true freedom.  

Those who have lost their jobs or are trying to hang on to their businesses need good news. Many of us are dealing with isolation and the stress of change in almost every aspect of our lives – new ways of working, of going to school, even of communicating. People are captive to fear, anxiety and worry about the future.  

As we look around at the world, our hearts ache because of the pain we see. What can we do to help – as just one person? When we reread Isaiah’s words as spoken by Jesus and then recall his Great Commission, we can see that Jesus has given us his Spirit and that we, as believers, have been anointed to proclaim the good news. We can show the way for mankind to be reconciled to this God who came to earth to release us from our captivity to sin and darkness and to free us from death! 

Even as just one person, we can purposefully seek out those in our neighborhoods and workplaces who are isolated or fearful and share our own stories of how God gives peace and strength in these difficult times as we focus our eyes on him. Would you pray for opportunities to be an encouragement to someone, to have spiritual conversations, to be that friend who binds up the brokenhearted and comforts those in mourning? Would you join me in being that one person in your corner of the world who shares the good news of freedom in Christ?