You Will Cry For Help, And He Will Say: Here I Am

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:6-12

The prophet Isaiah describes the kind of service God favors: acts that lift the hears of those around us.

This passage teaches how much God values unselfish service to others over empty spiritual rituals. In fact, God exercises a two-way blessing on the self-less service of His children. First, God uses our willing acts of service to aid the oppressed and needy. Then God honors those engaged in such service by building or rebuilding our reputations as powerful positive forces in His kingdom. What service will you offer this day?

Selfless service to others brings honor to God.

Our Daily Bread – July 26, 2018