“Season of Divine Favor”

 


In Luke 4. 18-19, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1-3 to a group of astonished Jews.  Isaiah had foretold the coming of the Messiah's kingdom in the appealing metaphor of these words read by Jesus.  There are two ways of misunderstanding this prophecy: (1) by those who view Christianity as being merely a revolutionary movement, intent on emptying jails and raising economic standards, and (2) by those who fail to accept the Christian fundamentals of aiding the poor and relieving the afflicted. Nevertheless, the great stress of the kingdom of Christ is spiritual, the "poor" including even the rich who know not the Lord, "captives" being primarily those who are taken captive by the devil to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26), and "the blind" having certain references to such people as the secular and materialistic Pharisees, of whom Jesus said, "I came into this world, that they that see not may see" (John 9:39).

The "year of the Lord" is not referring to twelve calendar months, but to the time or season in which God's abundant favor for humanity had arrived.  We live in this season.  God has made it possible for us to receive all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.  If we are waiting for a greater time of God's blessings, we are overlooking the great blessings we now have access to.   In this season of divine favor, all need to come to the throne of grace and obey God's word.

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