“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”
-Isaiah 42:1-4
Christmas in Our Hearts
This passage from Isaiah is the first of the four Servant Songs. Christians see these passages as pointing ultimately to Jesus the Messiah, who comes in all humility and faithfulness to bring justice to the nations. He comes to restore light where there is darkness and sight to the blind. He comes to set free the captives and mediate a new covenant. He has come to call and rescue you.
If we are to receive justice and mercy, we must live justice and mercy. We have been set free by Christ. So, with Christmas in our hearts, we should begin each day of this new year with the intention of bringing the justice and mercy we have received to others.
Who is the Lord asking me to bring justice and mercy to today?
Image credit: “Christ the Consolator” (detail) by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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