We Can Be Like Him Too

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. —Isaiah 11:2

Who was Isaiah describing in this passage? As Christians, we assume he was prophesying about Jesus, and indeed, these adjectives do describe the Jesus of the Gospels. Jesus was wise in his understanding of people, whether it was widows who were being cheated by the powerful, lepers cast out of their communities, or rich men who built bigger barns to store more riches rather than share with the needy. He counseled people on relating to enemies or dealing with relatives who refused to share their inheritance. He encouraged those who didn’t know where their next meal would come from and offered hope for those in mourning. He moved in the world with open-eyed knowledge, continuing to heal and teach even when he knew his preaching would rile the authorities and lead to his arrest and death.  Yes, Isaiah describes Jesus well.

But might this also describe who we can be if we let the Spirit of the Lord rest upon us? God unleashed the Holy Spirit in this world, and all these gifts are available to us now. Our God is not a God to reserve such gifts for one person, and Jesus was eager for his friends to be like him. Jesus’ attributes can be ours too if we ask for them. 

For reflection: Which of the above attributes would you say you possess? How might God want to use them so that you can be Christ in the world? Which of these gifts, or others, would you like to cultivate more? Boldly ask God to help you.