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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 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. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Isaiah 61:1-6
“Holy Father, Thy wisdom excites our admiration, Thy power fills us with fear, Thy omnipresence turns every spot of earth into holy ground; but how shall we thank Thee enough for Thy mercy which comes down to the lowest part of our need to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and for the spirit of heaviness a garment of praise? We bless and magnify Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 65. Click here to download it freely.
Today marks the last post from A. W. Tozer for now. I have enjoyed sweet fellowship with friends down under. I fly home tomorrow. I pray you have gained wisdom this week.
Lest we think more highly of ourselves than we should, we must remember that God does not need us.
He chooses to work in and through us. He is not only our Savior. He offers us infinite power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. But are you tapping it?
And today, we see him go to the lowest part of our need to transform it. He gets His proverbial hands dirty. If you feel like life is filled with ashes, mourning, and a spirit of heaviness, He wants more for you.
He offers beauty, the oil of joy, and a garment of praise.
God generously meets us in our lowest parts and transforms everything. And the best part, after that, we get to help others experience it. He makes us rebuilders, priests, and ministers.
He meets us in the lowest part of our need so we can meet others there.
Think right now of someone who has needs. How can you serve as a rebuilder if they are broken, as a priest to connect them to God, or as a minister to help meet their needs?
Ask the Holy Spirit whom to serve and do it generously.