Give Yourself

Today, inadvertently, my daughter-in-law reminded me of Isaiah 58:10 which says, "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like mid-day."

Here is the benefit which follows the performance of this ministry. If a person, a family, a people, steer themselves to things that help their fellow man, they find God, their bountiful rewarder and what they lay out in works of charity shall be abundantly made up to them.

1. God will surprise them with the return of mercy after great affliction, which shall be as welcome as the "light breaking out like the dawn" (verse 8).
2. God will put honour upon them. Good works shall be compensated with a good name; this is included in that light which "rises out of darkness" (verse 10).

The mathematical and scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) are astronomical. Some of the most notable of his achievements include the invention of calculus, the discovery of the laws of motion and the law of gravitation, and the construction of the first reflecting telescope.

On the Bible he said:
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." At the time of his death, he left more than a million words of notes on the Bible.

Sir Isaac Newton made enormous advances in life, but when I read about him, it seemed there was more to say about his faith and generosity than his achievements in life. Six years after his death, Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel and The Apocalypse of St. John was published. Not only was Isaac a great scientist but also a dedicated student of the Bible.

Why would anyone bring up a scientist like Sir Isaac Newton in a devotion. Well, I did because before our achievements, before our accomplishments in life, before our successes (or failures), there is a people surrounding us who are in real need. They struggle in life until we recognize the calling of God on our hearts to step in and help.

Who will pen the next commentary on prophecy or perhaps the next Apocalyptic allegory? We don't know. However, we do know those in need and God, in all of His infinate wisdom has chosen us to "stand in the gap". Someone needs you tonight! Can you hear their plea?

Dave