Isaiah 61: Publicity

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn.

Isaiah 61:2 (NKJV)*

To proclaim is to 'announce publicly' (Collins English Dictionary). As God decrees, 'Ambassadors for Christ' (2 Corinthians 5:20), are publicists for Jesus Christ, their Lord.

'Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father Who is in Heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father Who is in Heaven' (Matthew 10:32-33).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: You live in times where Jesus is denied: not only by people who don’t know Him, but also by disillusioned Christians, who saw hypocrisy and opted out.  Why:

  • In both groups, truth is misrepresented, because Jesus is misrepresented.

  • Love, faith, and hope are misrepresented, because hate, fear, and darkness aren’t Christ-like.

  • Instead of kindness and comfort, some saints stomp, ‘stew’ and serve conspiracy theories… 

Is God’s vengeance pointed just at pagans? Consider Scripture:

1) 'Sin is not imputed when there is no law' (Romans 5:13).**

2) 'Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23).

Does God hate the world that doesn’t know Him? If so, then are these Verses in John true?

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved’ (John 3:16-17).

Surely, God’s Words are ALWAYS true and right. Therefore….

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: you’re witnessing not only to the world (that they may come to believe in Jesus), you’re also witnessing to lost brethren:

  • To those who’ve left the narrow path of love with angry faces and pointed fingers.

  • To those who’ve left religiosity and never got to know the real Jesus.

Isaiah 61: Publicity (Part 3)

* Barnes Notes on the Bible, Isaiah 61:2. Scroll down to see Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.
http://biblecommenter.com/isaiah/61-2.htm.

** Modern commentary on Romans 5:13:
https://redeeminggod.com/sin-is-not-imputed-where-there-is-no-law/

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey ArbanComment