Give to the LORD

While in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read the place where it was written in Isaiah 61:1-3:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  In coming to earth as a man, God chose to add humanity to His deity to save sinners.  If God was coming only as a Judge and to take vengeance upon sinners, He did not have to become man at all.

Wouldn't it be a strange thing for prisoners to prefer the comfort of their cells than wanting to be free?  To remain a captive to a cruel tyrant when there is opportunity to be free to serve the King Jesus?  It would be sad to continue mourning when God has real comfort for us, and how ridiculous it would be to cling to ashes in memory of what was when God has beauty to give in exchange.  The LORD provides them who trust Him the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness--all for the glory of God and our good.  Even as we must put off old shoes before we can be fitted with new ones, we must be willing to hand all we mourn over to the LORD to receive the joy and praise suited for trees of righteousness established by God's grace.

We who are willing to confess and repent of our sin to receive the atonement, forgiveness and righteousness of God ought to part with the regrets of our past as we enter the new life by faith in Jesus.  To think we can have beauty for ashes is a glorious truth of the reality of God's grace and mercy at work within us.  Ashes are a reminder of what was and will never again be, but far better is the beauty of holiness found in God alone.  having received hope and salvation from God, it is fitting for us to respond by giving to God as it is written in 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, "Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. ²⁹ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!"  Even our ashes are a gift from the LORD's hand that we might bring an acceptable offering of praise for His goodness and the joyful new life He has provided.

Let us by faith make our requests to God, and at the same time not forget to give Him all the praise, worship (and even our mourning and ashes!) so we might grow into the fruitful trees of righteousness for His glory.