Isaiah 58:6-9

I forgot to add this to the last blog post, so I'll add it now.  These verses have been challenging me and the guys in Bible study recently.
⁶ “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? 
⁷ 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? 
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 
   and your healing will quickly appear; 
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you, 
   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 
⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; 
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Do you feel like your light is not shining in the darkness? Do you feel like your prayers aren't being heard?  Well these verses share some very practical advice from the mouth of God to the prophet Isaiah.  SHARE your food with the hungry.  It doesn't say give, it says share.  Its not just about giving out of your abundance, but sharing what you think you need and have.  Provide the poor wanderer with shelter.  How many of us have space to spare and have money to spare?  How often do we use that space and money for ourselves instead of helping out and ministering to those that have less than us?  Clothing the naked.  There are so many people that are in need, and so often we ignore it!  "Not to turn away from your own flesh and blood."  Do you realize that you are the SAME as those who have nothing and are in need......God loves them and you the same!!  So why do we only love the lovely?  And only look to help people that will give us something back in return?

Do you want your light to shine?  Your prayers to be answered?  Than love the loveless and serve those who can't give you anything in return.  Yes, it may be uncomfortable for you to go up and help someone who looks like they haven't taken a shower in 3 weeks, but in the end do you think it was better to use that 2 dollars on them, or on buying that milkshake from McDonald's on the way home?  I just think we really need to question what our priorities are. Are we really concerned about the people God created and loved, or do we just want to give a few dollars that don't hurt us at all in order to feel good about ourselves.  My challenge (to myself and to you) is to give time and money in loving those that Christ so often bent down to help!  Didn't Jesus always seem to help those that so many people wouldn't even touch?  Lepers? The adulterous woman?

Think about it!