This Little Light of Ours – Part II
Scripture — Isaiah 61:4 (NRSV)
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations, and they will repair the ruined cities.
Focus
The power the Spirit gives us is to rebuild.
The power the Spirit gives us is to raise up.
The power the Spirit gives us is to repair.
Basically, the power the Spirit gives us is to restore and heal all that is unwell.
Devotion
Yesterday I wrote about my experience of living into the prophetic call of Isaiah with other interfaith leaders in our community. Many a sermon has been preached on this 61st chapter of Isaiah, especially verses 1-3. I would love to skip to the verses that describe what will happen AFTER the Spirit’s anointing falls. The word “then” punctuates a change in the cadence and list of reasons of why the Spirit has fallen.
And then… after the Spirit falls…it’s a communal call:
Then… they will rebuild, raise up, and repair.
If you know me, you know I love verbs. I have said before that the seeds of the gospel are in the verbs of Jesus. One day Jesus will make right every wrong that has ever been done to you. And that one day can also begin now in and through his followers who embody such verbs.
The power the Spirit gives us is to rebuild.
The power the Spirit gives us is to raise up.
The power the Spirit gives us is to repair.
Basically, the power the Spirit gives us is to restore and heal all that is unwell.
As I look around the particular church that I lead, we have been rebuilding, raising up and repairing. It is often ordinary, non-sensational, slow work of the Spirit. It does not always make the news. However, what astounds me the most is when the light and creativity that others bring magnifies the power and presence of the Spirit. The many hands and hearts put together have packed a punch in the work of restoration. Ancient ruins have been rebuilt to trust Jesus again. Leaders have been raised up in places long devastated. Repair of people and systems in our community is ongoing.
This little light of ours is bold and prophetic, friends. Do not forsake the ordinary, daily and repetitive work of restoration. When fueled by the Spirit, your community will be a light. Find that community. Be a light.
Reflect
What places in your community need repair, rebuilding, raising up?
Act
If you don’t already, sign up to volunteer in your community for a season to repair, rebuild or raise up. See what happens by the end of summer with that work.
Pray
God of restoration, show us the ancient ruins, the places formerly devastated and the ruined cities. Open our eyes to the places of desolation that need an outpouring of your presence. Help us to be your “yes” and be a light. Fuel the fire within us to rebuild. Raise us up to repair. Root us in grounded community that your salvation would be near. Amén.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Maintenance Work: Redeeming the Mundane.
Inés Velásquez-McBryde
Chaplain at Fuller Theological Seminary & Pastor, Preacher, Speaker
Inés Velásquez-McBryde is a pastor, preacher, reconciler and mujerista theologian. She is the lead pastor and co-founder of The Church We Hope For. She is originally from Nicaragua, a third generation pastor, and the first pastora in her family. Inés earned her MDiv at Fuller Theolo...