THE VERSE
If you pour yourselves out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.~Isaiah 58:10
THE THOUGHT
In Hebrew, the phrase "pour yourself out for the hungry" is literally "offer yourself for the hungry." If we are to be the kind of servants that our Servant Savior desires, we must be willing to get our hands dirty. Putting money in the offering plate is commendable, but that sacrificial giving should be accompanied by a sacrificial spirit that freely opens up your life to the inconvenience, time, and expense of investing yourself in others. God doesn't want us to just serve at soup kitchens; Isaiah 58:7 says to bring the homeless poor into your house.What if we as Christians took these commands seriously? Would we see crime rates drop, poverty retreat, and our cities won for Christ? For your answer, take a look at the second half of today’s verse- a promise contingent upon the people of God rising up and pouring themselves out for the materially and spiritually hungry. Let your light shine in the darkness, and the glory of the Lord will be displayed in our cities again as God's redeemed extend the love of the Savior to those in desperate need.
THE PRAYER
God, Give me the faith in Your promises to be reckless in my obedience to You. Remove from me all selfish notions of comfort and ease, and help me to embrace a radical servant lifestyle that brings glory to You by reflecting the love that You first showed to us.EXTENDED READING
Isaiah 58:6-11Matthew 5:13-16
James 2:14-20
THE QUOTE
“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” ~St. Francis of Assisi
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