Daily Devotion - April 13, 2023

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. (Luke 4:18)

We see grace emerge on the pages of Scripture whenever God provides for those who cannot provide for themselves. Most often these reflections are not the full story of God’s work of salvation but highlight aspects of his character and care that become fully revealed in Christ Jesus. 

We hear early strains of the music of grace throughout the Old Testament as God provides food for the hungry, strength for the weary, freedom for slaves, a family for the fatherless, faithfulness to the faithless, and forgiveness for the undeserving. 

The music rises to a crescendo in accounts of Jesus’ ministry to the poor, blind and oppressed, then climaxes in his death and resurrection, and continues reverberating through the ministry of the church that carries the music of grace to the world by his Spirit. 

The difference this concert of grace makes comes on the days our sin or circumstances have made God seem silent. Then the bass drums, cymbals, and trumpets of Scripture announce Jesus afresh in a symphony of praise to stir weary or wandering hearts to beat in rhythm with the assurance of his grace and to live in harmony with his glory. 

Prayer: Father, as Scripture’s message of grace culminates in the ministry of your Son may my heart harmonize with his joy and beat for his glory.