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SCRIPTURE READING

ISAIAH 42:1-9
ACTS 10:34-43
MATTHEW 3:13-17

Called and Anointed for Service

The profound theme for our reflection is “Called and Anointed for Service.” To be “called and anointed” in a spiritual sense signifies that God has invited you to a specific purpose (calling) and has empowered you with the Holy Spirit (anointing) to fulfil that purpose. This divine appointment sets you apart for sacred work or service rather than personal gain, equipping you with spiritual authority and strength to execute His will. While the calling is the invitation, the anointing is the divine power that makes the impossible possible through God’s presence. Essentially, we are “Chosen for the Mission of God.”

A mission is a vital assignment entrusted to an individual or a group of people. As we render service to the Lord, His redemptive work is realised in the world. From a Christian perspective, mission is God’s supreme act of redeeming and saving lost humanity. This theme reveals two transformative truths about God’s love, which we shall explore:

1. Jesus is the Anointed One for the mission of God.
2. We have been called and anointed to carry forward the mission of God.

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I. Jesus: The Anointed One for God’s Mission

Throughout history, God has been on a relentless mission to draw His people back to Himself. When Israel went wayward, He raised prophets to proclaim His will and restore the covenant relationship. Isaiah was one such prophet, called to minister during a dark period of Babylonian captivity—a time defined by idolatry, injustice, and disobedience.

God’s original intent was for Israel to be a light to the nations, yet they lost sight of their calling. In response, God promised a chosen Servant who would succeed where others failed:

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations… I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7)

This prophecy found its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ. Peter confirmed this truth with conviction:

“You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:37-38)

Without Jesus, the Anointed One, no one can be saved, and none can please God. His baptism was the public seal of this mission, where the Father declared: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17). Beloved, our only path to pleasing God is through the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

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II. Our Call to Carry Forward the Mission

We have also been called and anointed to serve in God’s mission through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus did not merely start a work; He completed the foundation for it. As the ultimate expression of love, He came so that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). His final cry on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), guarantees that our salvation is complete.

However, the “finished” work of the cross marks the “beginning” of our assignment. We are now the stewards of this Good News. We have been chosen to preach Christ—the one appointed by the Father to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Our mission is incomplete without the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us of our mandate:

“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:42-43)

The core mission of the Church is to testify that Jesus is Lord. It is rather unfortunate that in the twenty-first century, many churches have prioritised magnificent cathedrals, corporate competition, and business ventures over soul-winning. When the budget for Evangelism is “woefully inadequate” or entirely absent, the Church ceases to be a movement and becomes a monument.

Until a church is intentional about the Gospel, it will do everything except the Father’s mission. We must return to an evangelistic revival. The Church exists because Jesus, the first Evangelist, prioritised the lost. When we follow His perfect example, we can be certain that God is with us, and we shall reap a bountiful harvest as fishers of men.

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Summary

We have discovered that Jesus is the uniquely Anointed One, and subsequently, we are called to participate in His redemptive work. We glorify God for deeming us worthy to be His ambassadors. May we remain steadfast as we await the second coming of our Lord.

A Prayer for Service

Almighty and Everlasting God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Anointed One who brought light into our darkness. We thank You for calling us out of obscurity and into Your marvellous light. Lord, we ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit today. Anoint our lips to speak Your truth and our hands to do Your work. Remove every distraction that hinders us from Your mission. Grant us the courage to be bold witnesses in this generation, that many may find forgiveness and life in Your Name. Strengthen us to remain faithful servants until the day we see You face to face. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.