True freedom and healing

Posted by janecaniff on Nov 24, 2009 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

The context of Isaiah 61 is the Year of the Lord’s Favor. The cross reference I found to this was in Leviticus 25, where the Jubilee Year celebration and guidelines were given. The seventh year is the year all debts were forgiven (Sabbatical year) and God instructed the Israelites not to plant crops that year and eat only what the earth produced on its own. But the Jubilee year happens every seven Sabbatical years – the fiftieth year. Talk about a freedom party – all land leases and indentured contracts should expire! It would make middle age something to look forward to! If we were to practice this today, it would also alleviate much of the burden to our brothers and sisters in developing countries.

But even the Jubilee year wasn’t true freedom as we know it, in Christ. Sacrifices still had to be made after the year of Jubilee, because the meter continues to run, and we continue to sin. Understanding the magnitude of the Jubilee year, and that fact that Christ has paid that debt, He destroyed the ‘meter’ – every day should be a Jubilee year! And as Christ has paid that debt for us, so we should extend that to our debtors…wait, isn’t there a prayer in there? The Lord’s Prayer?

What about the ‘day of vengeance of our God’? Does that mean we will have a much longer period of grace (Year of the Lord’s Favor) and a short period of judgment? I can hope that it is the destruction of evil in a very short period of time, the day of the Lord’s return. And out of the destruction of evil comes comfort, and healing.

As much as I try to prepare my heart for what will take place in Kenya, there is nothing compared to living it. Jesus calls us to a ministry of healing and restoration. I wonder about the women we will meet today – what are their names? What are their stories? Do they all know the Lord? What are their wounds that need healing? Can we encourage them…or, as is often the case, will they encourage us just by their daily faith in the Lord to provide food, clothing and shelter? My prayer is that we are obedient to God’s plan, to do His work, and that we celebrate our freedom in Christ as never before!

Maisha yangu yote naitoa kwako, nisiambike mileleo
My whole life I give to you Lord, I won’t be ashamed forever

Mileo o, Milele o, milele o, milele o
Forever, forever, forever, forever