To give some context, Jesus was in the synagogue reading the above verse. He declared to the listeners that He was the one the prophet Isaiah was speaking of, The Messiah.

What I want us to do is direct our attention to is what the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has to offer those who believe in Him:

a crown of beauty instead of ashes

joyous blessing instead of mourning

praise instead of despair

The words ashes, mourning, despair reflect a state of misery. Now contrast that with beauty, joy, praise. I wonder why any sane person would choose ashes, mourning, and despair over beauty, joy, and praise. I’ve pondered this often. And I have noticed, even in the Christian community, there are those who take their belief in God too casually. They don’t feel the need to engage in Bible reading or invest time in prayer. They don’t feel the need to become involved with a community of fellow believers. For the enemy has blinded them to the necessity of these for good spiritual health.

But you see, they won’t feel these needs, if they avoid learning what the Bible has to say about living such a life. The enemy stands ready to convince individuals that going your own way promises the greatest and most desirable form of freedom.

But that’s nothing but a trap of lies. For Christianity holds the promise of genuine freedom. For you know, Jesus really did die to pay the price for our freedom, so we wouldn’t have to. It’s no lie. When we leave this earth we truly are bound for heaven as God’s own. So let’s open our eyes, and refuse to be deceived by the enemy, the liar. He desires to destroy as many of us as possible. Just to get back at God.

However, if we would rather become oaks of righteousness, possessing the transforming power of exchanging what the enemy has for us for what Christ has for us, then it’s a matter of who we permit to rule our thoughts. Thoughts which are ruled by God’s word will know true eternal freedom!