This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

“I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.” (New International Version)

For those who serve the God of Scripture, there is work to be done.

According to Scripture, people are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). As the only creatures on earth with the divine stamp of God’s image, humanity’s purpose is to reflect and work toward that which characterizes God:

• Be holy because God is holy. That is, set apart your life for good and right purposes, and not for ill. Devote yourself to being above board in everything, and work for the common good of all persons.

• Love one another as God has loved you. Since the Lord demonstrated a sacrificial and unconditional love toward you, so do the same for others. Love God. Love your neighbor.

• Do justice because God is just. God is concerned that everyone on planet earth has what they need – both physically and spiritually – to live and thrive in this world. Ensure that people’s needs are met, without any prejudice or favoritism.

The servant of God has a mandate to be a covenant and light for people. Since God makes and keeps promises to people; and since the Lord is light without any darkness, so God’s servant is to embrace and embody a steadfast commitment to continually doing good.

We are meant to be a blessing to people on this earth – and not a curse. (Galatians 3:8)

I don’t have much stomach for fellow believers who think they are responsible to let people know how sinful they really are. Such supposed messengers end up puking the “good news” on others, often leaving people in such a bad state that they want nothing to do with religion.

Any sort of forceful verbiage, or manipulative gaslighting of others, does not in any way reflect the God whom I serve; I view such underhanded methods as inconsistent with Scripture. Besides, the Lord certainly doesn’t need any of us, as if God is dependent on people’s gospel witness.

Instead, the Lord graciously cuts us in on the benevolent and gracious divine action that is being accomplished in the world. That God allows me to be a mouthpiece is a privilege and a responsibility. So, I will steward that trust well by using words that build up and encourage, without verbally accosting another in the name of serving God.

In the ancient world, the poor often found themselves in prison through the inability to pay off a debt. Part of the servant’s work is to cancel debt, thus providing freedom and a further means to work and support family. For the Christian, this is an elementary part of our prayers:

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12, NIV)

Those words of Jesus are meant to uphold the ethical teachings of the Law:

At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts… There need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. (Deuteronomy 15:1, 4-8, NIV)

Holiness, love, and justice are done by paying attention to the neediest of persons around us. The Lord’s servant can bring light because God is against the darkness. And the reason debts are cancelled (both real economic and spiritual forgiveness) is so that the monetary poor, and the poor in spirit, are liberated.

God is attentive to the vulnerable and needy; it is the Lord’s will that no one lives under the oppression of debilitating debt.

The work of the humble servant brings dignity, honor, and respect to human beings, thus honoring God and showing to the world what sort of God the Lord is – a gracious and merciful God who has a zeal for justice and for right relations in society. The Servant of the Lord, the ultimate Servant, is described in this way by the prophet:

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7, NIV)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.