“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58:6-9a
“Make thy house a shelter to them that have none of their own left. Hide not — That seek no occasion to excuse thyself. Thy own flesh — Some confine this to our own kindred; but we can look on no man, but there we contemplate our own flesh, and therefore it is barbarous, not only to tear, but not to love and succour him. Therefore feed him as thou wouldest feed thyself, or be fed; shelter him as thou wouldest shelter thyself, or be sheltered; clothe him as thou wouldest clothe thyself, or be clothed; if in any of these respects thou wert in his circumstances. Thy light — Happiness and prosperity. Break forth — It shall not only appear, but break forth, dart itself forth, notwithstanding all difficulties, as the sun breaks, and pierces through a cloud.”
John Wesley (1703-1791) in Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on Isaiah 58:7-8. It seemed fitting to read Wesley as I have arrived on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary for a few days (pictured in the header photo above). Special thanks to Steven Jankord for pointing me afresh to this powerful biblical text last week.
How can we be a shelter for victims of injustice?
Followers of Christ in Moldova, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, and other European countries experience this as their current reality. They have taken in Ukrainians who have fled for their lives from the Russian occupation. They are making room in their homes for refugees.
God asks us to care for others as we would care for ourselves.
This is a beautiful illustration of the call of Jesus to love God and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. It means making space in the middle of our schedules for others rather than just allowing them in the margins (if we have time, which we rarely do). We all can be a refuge for others wherever we are.
God wants us to set aside our desires and give ourselves to what He cares about.
This week I am serving seminary administrators who have convened from across the USA. Pray for fruitful discussions. And I pray your service in hard times is like light in the darkness. May God’s glory shine brighter than ever through our generous service.
Lord have mercy on all those seeking shelter. Help them find it through our care.