Lift Up the Downtrodden

I have just a few notes today from the first sermon that Jesus preached, and I firmly believe that they are worth noting: “And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk. 4:17-19). Okay, this is going to be really, really simple. Plain, pure truth is always that way; right in front of us just waiting to be seen and believed. So how about we see and believe the simplicity of what Jesus said here. Do you know anyone that is poor? Let them know that Jesus can make them rich in his love and faith, and let them know that Jesus said he would supply all the needs of everyone who seeks his kingdom and righteousness with first priority (Jas. 2:5; Mat. 6:33). If we’re able to help financially, maybe we can do that too. If we don’t they may waste away in their poverty without the faith that can deliver them from it. Simple enough? Do you know anyone who has a broken heart? Be there for them to comfort and lift them up, and see them through with God’s love until their heart is mended. If we fail to do so, they may very well perish in their despair. Do you know of anyone who is bound under vices and habits that are destructive to themselves and those around them? Let them know that Jesus has the power and the willingness to redeem them from the captivity of those kinds of things, and to give them peace instead. If we don’t do it, who will; the psychiatrists? I don’t think so.

How about the blind? We need the faith and power to restore their sight, and if we don’t have it then I suppose we need to be ‘eyes to the blind’ until we get it. Many are just blind to the love of God because they have never known anyone who has shown it to them. So let’s be the first to do so. Otherwise they will continue to stumble over everything that is in front of them. Know anyone who has been bruised by the the hardships of this life? Set them at liberty from their wounds with the healing, and comfort, and deliverance that Jesus has given you in your life. If we don’t then they will likely remain injured with these bruises and not be able to live with any joy. As for “preaching the acceptable year of the Lord,” we don’t need to look very far to see plenty of souls who need to be made aware of the stark reality of the words of the apostle Paul: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). If we don’t do it, they may very well go right on in their misguided thinking that this life lasts forever, and that there is no consequence for neglecting the suffering, death, and resurrection of Almighty God’s beloved Son who willingly gave himself for us all. I could elaborate on all of these things, and reference a whole lot more scripture, but I’ve actually covered everything that Jesus spoke of in this passage, and the point is sufficiently made. I would say that we need to be looking at what is in front of us, and do all that we can do while we can still do it. Amen.