If you were to craft a mission statement for Jesus, what would you say in it? Go ahead and take a moment and try to think one up. Once you’re done, scroll ahead to see what Jesus actually put in his own.
*Quick pause for the 0% of you who followed instructions.*
After being baptized in the Holy Spirit and tested in the desert, Jesus returned home and read a passage from Isaiah as a mission statement of sorts. The Holy Spirit was upon him so that he could:
- Proclaim good news to the poor.
- Proclaim liberty to the captives.
- Recover the sight to the blind.
- Set at liberty those who are oppressed.
- Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
In true prophetic form, Jesus was all about the lowly people of the world. That’s all the more reason why he told us that when we take care of the poor, we take care of him—and also why such acts of service are required among the citizens of Heaven.
To call Jesus “King” and oppress the poor or commit injustice at the same is a major error. Such things are out of sync with the mission statement of Heaven. So whenever something related to the poor and oppressed comes our way, let’s be sure to listen, understand, serve, and liberate.
*This devotional was created out of the themes of Luke 4:14-30 found in today’s reading at CommonPrayer.net.
Jamin Bradley 