David Willis hadn’t been in the bookshop long when he walked downstairs and found the lights were turned off and the doors were locked. He was trapped inside the store. Being in the age of social media, he cried out for help on Twitter: “Hi. I’ve been locked inside your Trafalgar Square bookstore for 2 hours now. Please let me out.” He was rescued not too long after his tweet!
As helpful as Twitter can be, we have Someone more powerful than the social media giant. If you feel trapped and are crying for help, Isaiah has some advice for you—and it may not be what you expect.
The prophet communicated that God had charged His people with practicing their religious devotion irresponsibly (Isaiah 58:1-2). They were going through the motions of religious practices and masking their oppression of the poor with empty and self-serving rituals (Isaiah 58:3-5). This didn’t win them any divine favor. In fact, God said, “I will not look” and “I will not listen” (Isaiah 1:15).
The Lord told the people through Isaiah that if they had an inner righteousness, evidenced by repentance and outward acts of social righteousness and mercy (Isaiah 58:6-7), His blessings would fall upon them. Among other things, they could call on the Lord as a genuine act of worship, and He would answer their prayers and provide them with His immediate presence (Isaiah 58:8-9).
Do we desire to hear God say “Here I am” when we cry for help? Then perhaps we should seek to be God’s answer to the prayers of the poor and marginalized in our community. Let’s get close to those who need us and extend the love and compassion of our faithful God. He hears each cry for help and can use us to bring the hope and encouragement they need.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 16:1-15
More:
Read Isaiah 58:6-9 again and list what God is looking for in terms of social righteousness within the community.
Next:
What behaviors or attitudes toward others could be preventing you from experiencing answered prayer? Of what do you need to repent? Who do you know who is crying for God’s help?
Gary Shultz on November 1, 2015 at 6:22 am
It seems to me you bring a few interesting things to think about. Are we faking it and not making it in spiritual practice? Did we make it and we have existed inside a safe bubble. And if we have chosen to follow Christ are we finding those who need us? The last is most interesting to me, probably because it is me most of the time, I continually find rejection to words about choosing Christ. Social programs meet and usually exceed the need of anyone claiming to need help. Trying to be an effective witness is a challenging call. I should be asking for more opportunities. Thanks
jim spillane on November 1, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Gary – don’t be discouraged because you “find rejection to words about choosing Christ.” Find comfort in the fact that you are following the Lord’s command to spread His Word to others. You do the witnessing and Almighty God will do the converting. Remember, no one comes to the Father, unless the Father Himself draws them. I admire your devotion.
Gary Shultz on November 1, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Thanks Jim.