Jesus' ministry imparts glory

I’m reading Isaiah 61, the ministry of our Christ. What glory resides in this chapter, waiting to fall on those who believe in His name! I’ve always believed Jesus lives in us to, in this dame way, minister through us to others. He binds up the broken-hearted, sets the captives free, and releases prisoners from darkness. Besides beginning this work at salvation, Christ continues to do this work through the members of His body. We are called to be priests and ministers. 1 Peter 2:9 states we are a priesthood to “declare the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His glorious light.” We can’t help but open our mouths to minister in the manner He has called us. Each one who uses his or her gift for the benefit of others brings a bit of the glory of God to earth. God encourages us through scripture to use our gifts according to our faith. We don’t need permission from others to minister, for we don’t belong to one man, but “each member belongs to all the others.” (Rom 12:5-6). The more I read scripture the more I become aware that Jesus’ beautiful ministry described in Isaiah 61 is meant to reside in a body, His Bride. If we in the 5-fold ministry do not bring people up in their gifts, we fail in what God placed us in the body for (see Eph 4:11-13). Let us yearn to see each member in the body of Christ function in their gifts . . . setting captives free, healing broken hearts, dispelling the darkness & bringing prisoners to light. When we see our brethren ministering as Jesus would minister through them, then we know we have walked as Jesus walked, imparting the glory of Christ to men and women who will impart His glory to others. Amen.