The preacher was in the middle of a passionate sermon, clearly teaching the wonders of the gospel of Jesus Christ. All was silent in the small rural church except for his booming voice. Then there was the sound of the front door swinging open and someone walking through the foyer into the sanctuary. The pastor looked surprised and somewhat annoyed by the interruption. He stopped in mid-sentence to ask the visitor, “May we help you, miss?”

Heads turned as a young woman sheepishly explained that she and her husband were down on their luck and needed some money to pay for gas to drive to their hometown. Many of the congregants turned around to the front, and the mood in the church became awkward. Many men and women kept their eyes averted. After a few seconds, which seemed like several minutes, the pastor asked for a volunteer to assist her. Some more time followed. Eventually, a man named Richard walked over to her, and they exited the church together. The pastor continued his gospel-centered sermon as if nothing had happened.

I later learned that Richard did more than was asked by driving into town to make sure the couple had everything they needed. Richard was a hard-working man, who doted on his family and tried to live rightly. He wasn’t known to read much, certainly did not get in many theological discussions, and probably would never be considered for church leadership. Yet, on that day and at other times, I learned much from his wisdom and good heart about living out the gospel.

Richard’s example often makes me think of the message of Isaiah 58. The Israelites of Isaiah’s day were meticulous in their religious worship, prayers and fasting, yet they felt that God took no notice of their obedience. Isaiah chides them by saying, “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.” Their unjust actions were showing the hypocrisy of the worship of which they were so proud.

According to Isaiah, the Lord says, “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”

Richard’s story may seem insignificant, but perhaps that is precisely what makes it very important indeed. For it is often our day-to-day actions that show where our heart really lies. Jesus taught that whenever we do something as simple as give cold water to someone who is thirsty, we do so for Him. We often quote James 2:17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Let us not forget the preceding verses, 2:15-16, which say, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” Isaiah and James both say that authentic worshippers of God will seek justice and mercy for those in need.

A few short pages after Isaiah 58, in chapter 61, we read the words that Jesus later applied to Himself in what was perhaps His inaugural sermon: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor…” May God grant us the grace to share the gospel – in word and deed – as faithful ambassadors of this anointed Lord and King who has come with such good news for all.

© 2007, Amy Lauger