Dressed by the Holy Spirit

He has sent me to bestow on them a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61, verses 1 through 3. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled, Dressed by the Holy Spirit, was written by Patricia Rabin and read by Joyce Dinkins. Isaiah, chapter 61, verses 1 through 3 and 10 through 11. The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Now picking up at verse 10. I delight greatly in the Lord. My soul rejoices in my God, for He has closed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness. As a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels, for as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Dressed by the Holy Spirit.

Written by Patricia Raybon. Two eight-year-old boys in Maine, a rural American state, made their mark by wearing business suits to school on Wednesdays. Soon, dapper Wednesdays became a favorite day as other classmates and school staff dressed up too. James, who launched the idea, loved hearing compliments. It just made my heart feel really good.

Their Wednesday attire set the kids apart as proud students of their school. Our spiritual clothing, which sets us apart as God's own, gladdens our hearts too. My soul rejoices in my God, said Isaiah, for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness.

As a bridegroom adorns His head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. As the Israelites went into exile, their clothing, spiritual and material, was threadbare and worn. Isaiah offered them a hopeful promise. God's Spirit would bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

The same promise rests on God's people today. In Luke chapter 24, Jesus said that by His Spirit we would be clothed with power from on high. Christ provides us with a wardrobe of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Clothed by Him, we reflect His love to the world.

Let's pray. Thank you, Lord, for wrapping us in your salvation and righteousness through Jesus. Help us to show compassion, kindness, and humility every day so we display your love with the world. It's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How does God's Spirit help you dress in compassion, kindness, and patience? How are others affected by your Spirit-led behavior?