What gift do you give to someone who has everything and needs nothing? That isn’t easy. I’m talking about God. What can you give to God that he needs?
In Isaiah 61 Jesus speaks as the servant of the Lord who comes to help people.
“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” (Isaiah 61:1,2)
Jesus is appointed to save sinners and anointed with the power to do it. And look what he comes to receive from you—well, actually, to take away from you. Look what you can give to the One who has everything.
Give him your poor spirit robbed of any righteousness by sin.
Give him your broken heart crushed by the cumulative weight of mistakes and blunders.
Give him the shackles Satan has locked on you, sentencing you to guilt and grief.
Give him your tears of mourning, your ashes of repentance, and your spirit of despair.
That’s what you give to Jesus.
And, in his mercy, Jesus is thrilled to give you something in return. He gives you the good news that you’re the chosen winner of his riches of salvation.
Jesus replaces your broken heart with a perfectly functional one that pumps forgiveness and eternal life into every breath.
Jesus purchased your ticket to freedom from temptation’s power and death’s grave.
Jesus provides everlasting comfort, and places a beautiful crown on your head that lets Satan know you rule in God’s kingdom.
Jesus pours perfumed oil on you for a joyful celebration of his grace and covers you from head to toe with his own glory.
That’s the give and take relationship between you and Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus, today I give you whatever there is in me that isn’t right. I ask you to anoint it with your healing, your freedom, and your good news. Release me from my sin to better serve you and others. Remember those who are unjustly imprisoned. If it is your will, provide a way out for them to freedom. Amen.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Read the entire chapter of Isaiah 61. Some of Jesus’ gifts I mentioned above are in these other verses. Also, can you identify who is speaking which portions?
