"Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer."

This morning, while out on the creek just after sunrise, I was treated to a special moment when the sun's rays finally began to pierce through the fog and morning shadows. The humidity that lingered in the mountain valley captured the light and lit up in distinct shafts that sliced through an otherwise gloomy forest. This was a special moment because part of my goal on this trip to the mountains was to spend extra time with God. The scene reminded me of a favorite passage in Isaiah 58:6-11.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

 This reminds me a lot of a passage in Matthew 25:31-40. The verses that are particularly relevant are verses 34-36 which says, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'" Further on, Jesus summarizes the whole principle by saying, "'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'" (verse 40).

Jesus is explaining how we are called to serve others. As Christians, we should always be seeking to serve. The whole point of these verses is to demonstrate that a life of service is strictly about giving. In each of these examples, it is impossible to have an ulterior motive. None of the people described are capable of giving anything back to the person helping them. No, service is about helping others simply because we have God's great love living in us and that is what life is all about.