The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me . . . to proclaim freedom for the captives. (Isa. 61:1)
I recently saw the movie Harriet, a portrayal of the life of Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then committed her life to helping others do the same. As I watched this adaptation of her life play out I was struck by the discontent that Harriet felt to live a life of freedom while others remained enslaved. It seemed she had a fire in her soul not to rest until she had done everything in her power to help the enslaved experience the freedom that she herself had. She believed that because she was free, they should be free too.
The prophet Isaiah knew that he had been sent to share the good news of the Lord and help those in spiritual captivity find freedom. This was a job that he had been anointed by the Lord to do.
Just as God called and anointed Isaiah, he has also called and anointed us. As followers of Christ we have the same good news to proclaim to the poor and the message of freedom for the captives. The same passion that burned within the hearts of Isaiah and Harriet, to see others live in freedom, should burn within us. As we live in the freedom that Christ has made available to us through his sacrifice on the cross, may we also lead those around us to the same freedom.
Proclaim the freedom of Christ so others can be set free.
Deborah Rhodes is co-lead pastor of Parkside [Wesleyan] Church in Greenville, South Carolina. She is passionate about studying and teaching God’s Word.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
