Isaiah 9 is one of those portions of Scripture that is so significant we need to rehearse it, read it, meditate on key words from the text and evaluate it from various perspectives. This month of December we are looking at 4 perspectives as revealed in the 4 Gospels as we look into this important revelation of Christ.
Matthew reveals Jesus as our King. Mark reveals Him as the “Obedient Servant.” Luke shows Jesus as “The Perfect Man” and John reveals Him as “The Divine Son of God.” Today our focus is reading with the understanding that Jesus truly is our ultimate example as The Obedient Servant.
Isa 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever... NIV
The church has derived a phrase from the understanding that Jesus was born into the world but he was not of this world. Today I’d like to revise that phrase a bit for clarity sake, keeping Jesus as the ultimate Obedient Servant in mind.
John 17:14-18 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. NIV
Jesus clearly says he is not of the world and we are not of the world. But it’s going somewhere. This actually is more of a commission than it is a conclusion. Jesus is not huddling up the team for another round of kumbaya. Jesus huddles up the team to run the next play and advance down the field.
Notice verse 18: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” And don’t miss the prayer of verse 15: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
We are sent as obedient servants into the world. The main emphasis Jesus gives for this mission is not to disassociate from this world. The mission is to be kept from the evil one as we enter into the world to rescue others from death to life so they can become part of the rescue team themselves.
There are deeply elaborate complexities driving our perspectives, decisions and conclusions. This is why we desperately need to invite God’s thoughts into our everyday lives in places of prayer and reading God’s Word. #turnthepage
Our mission is not only to flee the darkness, but to be obedient servants as we allow the light to guide our steps as we go back in to rescue others.
We’ve not merely been rescued from darkness. We’ve been given the light.
Have you ever held a match that was burning at night? Adding another match more than doubles the light. In this mission to reach into darkness make sure your closest connections are filled with His Light.
Isa 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. NIV
What happens when heaven comes? That depends upon our response! When we follow His example as an obedient servant we live sacrificially to further God’s Kingdom in the lives of others just as Jesus did for us.
It might be better for us to revise the common phrase “in the world but not of the world” to say “not of the world but sent into the world.”
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Begin praying about your New Year’s Revelation personally. God has something in mind for you in 2019!