As I was reading God’s Word today I was drawn to a passage in Isaiah that I had circled years ago, and I was struck with some new insight. The passage is from Isaiah 58:6-9 and it states:

“Is not this the kind of fasting that 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 him, 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 the he will say: Here am I.”

Why do we make everything so complicated? We try and compartmentalize life, and even God’s word. We so often try and make the simple complicated. I had a women come into my office yesterday, and her directness took me aback. She simply walked in and said, “What do you do for people?” So I started to tell her a little bit about my role at the church, and some of the things I oversee. When I was finished she looked at me sadly and asked if I loaned out money, which I responded that I did not. She then asked if we loaned out money for food, a sandwich I believe she said, and I responded no.

Praise God that we sometimes get second chances. I spent a bit of my morning a little disappointed in my response to her needs. By the grace of God after a few meetings I had to run out to my truck and I happened to cross paths with this woman again, and I was able to give her a “bag of grace” that our youth put together to feed and comfort her.

It amazes me how we can so easily turn our faith inward, and feel like we need to wait for the Lord to lead us. He has already lead us, and it is clear that we are all called to take care of the least of these, at all times, not just when we feel like it.

I hope the next time that I am asked, “What do you do for people?” that I have a much better response.  I hope that I can respond first with my actions and secondly with my words!

God’s calls us to be doers of His Word, not just seekers of His instruction.

November 18, 2009 <> Michael Warneke

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