Here is my servant whom I have chosen
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.Matthew 12:18-21
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my servant
Jesus was a servant, and as his disciples, we are his. Have no illusions, we are here to serve, not to be served.
I have chosen
Each person chosen and assigned their role in ushering in God’s Kingdom, according to their unique God-given skills, strengths and gifts.
I love
Our strength and courage draws on this love God has for us.
in whom I delight
Our motivation is his delight. Not to earn it, but to revel in it and enjoy it and immerse ourselves in it.
my Spirit on him
This isn’t merely natural work and effort, this is work empowered and affirmed by God’s Holy Spirit.
proclaim justice
Equality, fairness, hope, safety, opportunity
will not quarrel or cry out
It’s not about the sport, spectacle or stardom of society’s idea of success.
no one will hear his voice
Less talk, more action. Less brand and perception and posturing, more life change.
bruised reed… smoldering wick
The hurt, oppressed, poor, hopeless and helpless, sick, overlooked.
till
Mercy is the strategy and the game plan. We hold to the strategy until the end.
leads justice to victory
Justice will win out, but it’s slow and requires action, leadership.
In his name the nations will put their hope
This is my life’s work:
to offer Jesus’ hope to all that you can,
to work as he did,
empowered as he was,
with the values he carried
and the strategy he adopted
to the same end he strived for:
the victory of justice,
the hope of the nations,
the delight of the Father.