Bringers of Hope

God's hands are so full of good things to pour into my life and yours! And he gives the best of those things to people whose hearts really resonate with his own, who live in step with him. Let's listen to what he has to say to us in Isaiah 58 on this Monday. If you spent part of the day yesterday in worship and prayer, this message will be especially challenging. It's just 14 short verses, so take the time to read.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed ? . . .  If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness. . . . The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs . . . (v. 5, 10-11)

Sometimes we believers become worship addicts. We love to just soak in praise and worship and spend time in prayer. On Mondays we're already craving next Sunday! We go from one inspirational worship experience to another. We even carry them with us on our iPods and iPhones and iPads.

Worship isn't the only way to be filled up by God. There is a connection between how active I am in meeting the needs of others, especially the poor and powerless, and the extent to which God meets my own needs (read the verses above again). God delights in the love I offer him in my praise. He is eager to listen to my prayers and takes note of my fasting when I'm intensely seeking his blessing. But there needs to be some practical outcomes from my worship. It should motivate me to live a life of love and service to others, as Jesus did. I cannot love God and not serve people that he loves, particularly those who are in need and unable to help themselves. Would they testify to the fact that iServe?

At the very root of most of the world's poverty is a profound sense of hopelessness. That is something that I have never really experienced. I have grown up believing that good will come. Even in the worst of times I have been encouraged by the conviction that something better lies just down the road. It is not like that for the world's impoverished masses. They live with absolutely no anticipation that a break is coming their way. It is my privilege and duty to help them discover hope--a hope that comes from knowing God.

In doing that, there is an even greater hope for my own future! For when I meet the real needs of others God promises to meet my needs as well.

By the way, our church has an open slot (maybe two) for our week-long mission trip to Guatemala in October of this year to build a water well for a community that doesn't even have access to safe, clean drinking water. I can't wait to satisfy such a great need for these oppressed people! If you're interested, contact us at info@onelifeonline.org. Now, please post your comments on what God is saying to you through this chapter . . .