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SCRIPTURE READINGS
ISAIAH 35:1-10
JAMES 5:7-10
MATTHEW 11:2-11

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “Anointed for service”. To be anointed means to be chosen by a divine authority or chosen for a sacred, high, or special vocation or purpose. Sometimes it is marked by the symbolism of pouring or smearing oil upon the head of the one being consecrated. Paul defines service as the offering of one’s bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as one’s true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1) Anointed for service, therefore, means to be chosen, consecrated and set aside or called by God to offer one’s body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as one’s true and proper worship. A person may be anointed for service in different ministries of God’s mission in the world. In the context of our reflection and theme, we shall reflect on the fact that Jesus was anointed for service by God to becoming our redeemer or Saviour. Jesus has been anointed for service as Saviour in both the first and second Advents.

Firstly, the prophet Isaiah spoke about the joy of the redeemed when the anointed Servant or the Messiah comes. This promise came at a time when Israel was under siege by the Assyrian Empire. The promise of the anointed servant or the Messiah was to give hope to Israel that the Lord shall redeem them, it is for this reason, Isaiah said, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; ⁴ say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” ⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. ⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:3-6). We see the promise of God fulfilled in the first Advent of Jesus, the anointed servant of God “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. (Matthew 11:2-5). Again Jesus, assures us when He said in Luke 4:18-20 that ““The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”   ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21) Beloved in the Lord we have no doubt in our minds that Jesus is the anointed servant of the Lord whose mission was fulfilled through the first Advent when He came to show us the way to the Father and offered Himself as the ultimate living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God so that we shall have eternal life through repentance and faith in Him.

Secondly, having been saved by the Anointed Servant during His first advent, we now await His second Advent which will usher those who are saved into the eternal life or the Kingdom of God, it is for this reason James admonishes and encourages us that “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:7-10) In other words, at the second advent of the Anointed Servant, He assures us that “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-13). We are in the era of patiently waiting and preparing for the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must be remain joyful in our salvation and continue to offer our bodies as living sacrifices even as we wait for His second advent. Paul reminds us that since we have been saved by the Anointed servant, we have also become anointed and consecrated onto the Lord to serve Him with our our bodies. Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Our lives and bodies are now anointed and dedicate to the service of God through our salvation in Jesus Christ, therefore “Whatever,you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25) Remember that any service you render in the house of God or you are assigned to do at your workplace, family and society, do it to the best of your ability and do it to honour God for you have been anointed for service! Our desire is for Jesus to find us faithfully serving Him when He returns the second time. Let us not be in the habit give excuses we are called upon to serve but remain diligent servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Anointed for service” We have discovered that Jesus was anointed to serve God by becoming our redeemer or Saviour. Jesus has been anointed to serve as our Saviour in both the first and second Advents. Through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus we have also been anointed for service and must continue to serve the Lord as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. May the Holy Spirit continue to sustain our faith and hope even as we await the second arrival of the Anointed Servant of the Lord. May the Holy Spirit continue to empower us to serve God as anointed servants who are patiently awaiting to inherit His everlasting Kingdom through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.