Fulfilling Life

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:16-19)

The word manifesto has taken on negative connotations over the last few years, but the actual meaning is simply "a public statement of purpose or intentions". The portion of the scroll that Jesus read was from Isaiah 61, and this could certainly be considered Jesus' manifesto. Indeed, Jesus' heart and actions lined up with his words and intentions. His life fulfilled the Word.

May the Word that is fulfilled in each of us be life-affirming, truth-seeking, joy-bringing, and love-showing. May we, as the body of Christ, strive to fulfill God's purposes by bearing the good news of the gospel, lighting the way to freedom for those in mental, emotional, and physical captivity, and opening the eyes of a weary world to the power of God at work in and through every living being.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

(1 Corinthians 12:27-28)