Hophni, Phinehas, And Me. (Or, "Nice Necklace.")

"God is looking for some people who will take Him at His word." -Rev. Althea Taylor

"Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?" (from First Samuel 4:3)

First Samuel 4:3 relays a tough question asked by ancient Israel: "Why was God not with us?" In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea shared that there is no problem with asking God the "why" questions. But, sometimes, we are challenged because we may hear an answer that we didn't want to hear. God had an answer to the Israelites' question:

Why was I not with you? Because you disobeyed Me, and there are consequences to disobedience.

How sad is the life-story of Hophni and Phinehas. Surrounded by icons and articles of worship, these two men appropriated for themselves sacrifices that were reserved only for God. (In other words, they were stealing.) As their worship of God deteriorated, so did their watch-care over God's people: their narrative became one of spiritual and sexual abuse of the people who came to Shiloh for worship (see First Samuel 2:12-25). It's an shocking decline in faith and practice.

And, after years of stealing sacrifices and engaging in fornication in the doorway of the temple, Hophni and Phinehas boldly took the ark to the battlefield. The First Samuel 4 passage shows that they, and all Israel, made an amazing assumption: they believed that the mere presence of the ark of God would bring victory. There was no indication that anyone had prayed for God's help. There was no indication of repentance from Hophni and Phinehas. In a way, the ark of God had become a sort of amulet or good-luck charm; the people seemed not to take into account their own lives and behavior as factors in God's presence being with them.

Let's turn the story to ourselves. Icons are valuable, meaningful tools when God leads us to use them as symbolic expressions of our worship life. The function of an icon is to usher us into the worship and adoration of our God. But perhaps we, too, are guilty of embracing icons without engaging worship. It's easy to put a cross on the wall or to wear a cross necklace. It's not as easy to set aside time for prayer to our Lord who went to the cross. In this country, it's usually an easy thing to have access to the Bible. It's not as easy to be intentional in reading God's word and remembering what we've read. It's easy for us to listen to Christian music, but perhaps not as easy to live the Christian life.

Are we like Hophni and Phinehas, who neglected to obey God but then assumed that the ark would ensure His presence with them?

Lord God, You have asked us to give our lives to You. So, today, we give ourselves to You once again. Please help us to live out every aspect of our lives-- in worship, through service, at work, and at home-- in ways that are honorable and pleasing to You.

Sold, To The Highest Bidder.

Our pastor mentioned something on Sunday that I'd like us to reflect on for today. Pastor Althea said (and I paraphrase), It's not that it's hard to follow God; it's easy to follow God. It's just that it's easier not to follow Him.

It is a profound thought. I don't know if the people listening on Sunday agreed or disagreed. But let's ask a few questions of ourselves.

• If we were to record every thought and action of our day, would we find our hearts turned towards God or towards the world?
• In our Christ-walk, are we found to be people of prayer and people of the Word?
• Do we love being engaged in works of service to God, or are we showing up out of grudging obligation?
• Are our decision-making processes based on cultural tradition and current trends, or are they based on what God has said?

My prayer for us is that we all hold in our hearts a deep desire to be found in the company of our Lord, hearing and obeying His word, and doing His work.

Do not lack in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. (Romans 12:11-12)

"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Simply Intellectual?

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Althea made an observation: for some in the community of faith, Scriptural truths are merely a source of intellectual knowledge. Though they have an interest in acquiring data, they do not have an interest in growing in grace or living in obedience to the word they so faithfully read.

I wonder if we all at some point, and in some measure, are guilty of chasing data without seeking to draw nearer to God. In Sunday's sermon we considered Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas. These were men who served in God's house while demonstrating overt disobedience to His laws. Sadly, it is not just a story from long ago: it is the story we face in our time.

For today, let's read the Scripture text from Sunday with an intent to approach the word of God prayerfully and reflectively. Let us seek to hear from God as we read. Let us expect for God to show us something that we might not have realized on Sunday. Let us be ready to repent for the wrongs we may discover in our own souls as we reacquaint ourselves with this narrative.

Lord God, as we read Your word, please transform us and move us into a deeper relationship with You.

First Samuel 4

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.” Eli asked, “What happened, my son?” The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

Jesus On Speed Dial.

At the beginning of Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy shared the title: Promoting Freedom Through the Power of Jesus. He then added, "I didn't say 'promoting freedom through the pastoral team'."

Is it human nature to seek out the pastoral team before doing anything else? I ask this because I know my own knee-jerk reaction to crisis. If I am very ill, or if I think I need advice, or if a deadline is approaching and I am getting nervous about what may or may not happen, or if anything happens that even remotely resembles spiritual bondage, my first instinct is to pick up my phone and call a pastor or two. Why? Because it's much easier for me to call a pastor first than it is for me to pray first, fast first, or wait first.

I'm not alone in this boat, and I say that based on academic research and practical experiences with pastors from several churches (in addition to reflecting on my own sad track record). We congregants give great lip service to the love and power and presence of Christ Jesus in the life of the believer, but when the rubber hits the road we're not so inclined to call on Jesus. Instead, we call Pastor-so-and-so. And, because part of their role is to serve the community of faith, our ministers will typically do whatever they can to assist. That's great, and that is even appropriate, but I wonder if we are grossly short-changing ourselves by mediating our entire Christian journey through ministers instead of experiencing direct, dynamic encounters with the very Lord we claim to have given our lives to.

There is only one way to set captives free and resolve seemingly impossible situations. That way, that power, is found in the presence of Jesus. The Christian prescription has not changed: it is all about Jesus, our Lord. Worship the Lord. Pray to the Lord. Read and meditate on the word of the Lord. Give liberally to the work of the Lord. Obey the counsel and promptings of the Lord. It is this practice of complete, intimate communion with the Lord Jesus that increases our faith, trust, and patience... and it is the Lord Jesus who positions us to experience real, lasting freedom from demonic influences, oppression, and possession. That was the story of the man in Mark 5:1-20. That can be our story as well.

...Where Devils Fear To Tread.

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, He has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgement of the great Day. (Jude verse 6, NET Bible)


In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy noted that the demons mentioned in Mark 5 had an orthodox theology. What did they know that we should also know?

Hierarchy. They understood the positions and roles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As soon as they saw Jesus in human form, they addressed Him according to His heavenly rank: "Jesus, Son of the Most High God" (Mark 5:7).

Worship. They understood that the only appropriate posture to take in the presence of Jesus was to bow before Him (Mark 5:6).

Eschatology. The demons were aware that a day would come when they would be judged (Mark 5:7; Jude verse 6).

When Jesus came on the scene, the actions of the demonic spirits shifted into alignment with Divine order and protocol. How does the presence of the Lord inform your actions?

The Next Boat Leaves At...

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had once been full of demons. He was sitting there with his clothes on and in his right mind, and they were terrified. Everyone who had seen what had happened told about the man and the pigs. Then the people started begging Jesus to leave their part of the country. (Mark 5:15-17, CEV)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy made an important observation concerning the above passage: No one rejoiced that the man had been set free from demonic bondage.

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it is true: there are communities and groups that seem not to mind if a person remains bound and entangled in demonic systems. And, they get nervous when God steps in and does what they thought would never be accomplished.

The residents of the Gadarene region had their reasons for being terrified instead of praising God for the astounding act of deliverance they had witnessed. Interestingly, though, the Bible does not specify why they asked Jesus to leave. We can speculate on whether there were economic, psychosocial, or other reasons... but after all our speculation, we are left with the same conclusion: the community didn’t want Jesus in their region.

As for me, I love to see the Spirit of Jesus doing amazing things in the community where I live. And I am begging Him to stay.

How about you?

Deathtrap, Remixed.

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is about to drive them out from before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen readers and diviners, but the Lord your God has not given you permission to do such things. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14, NET Bible)

Thirty-five years ago, a play titled “Deathtrap” debuted on Broadway and ran for four years. The play highlighted the fact that engagement in abhorrent practices leads to a cycle of deception and death. A key character in the storyline is a psychic, who by the end of the play became entangled in the same deathtrap she had revealed through divination.

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Andy spoke on Mark chapter 5, which contains the narrative of the demon-possessed man who lived in the tombs of the Gadarene region. Our pastor also took a few minutes to reflect on Deuteronomy 18:9-14. He reminded us that God’s desire for His people is that they never engage in any form of abhorrent practice. Our pastor noted that engagement in activities such as magic or the occult is never a one-time occurrence: such engagement plants the participant into a demonic system in which the participant becomes trapped, and from which she or he might never escape.

Deuteronomy18:12 indicates that engagement in abhorrent practices opens the door to one’s dispossession (being "driven out"): a loss of one's lands and habitations. This is what happened to the demon-possessed man in Mark chapter 5: a loss of property internally and externally. 

Internally, his body (which God had designed and tailor-made as a habitation for his soul) was no longer his own. It had been inhabited by demons—a group of demons so large that they identified themselves as “Legion”, a term used to describe a band of Roman soldiers numbering between one and six thousand. 

Externally, the man was no longer able to reside in his hometown. He was driven by the demons away from his household, out of his hometown, and into the demons' preferred home: a graveyard. 

It is no surprise, then, that the demon-possessed man was out of control—so much so that, as our pastor noted, the man could not even say his own name when Jesus asked him to identify himself: instead, the demonic community in the man responded.

And in light of this, it makes it all the more curious that persons who claim to be Christian would engage in practices that will result in their souls being accessed by demonic spirits, their voices being subsumed by the voices of darkness, and their covenant blessings cancelled.

What has God said? “The Lord your God has not given you permission to do such things.”

May we never be found standing in opposition to God’s directives. Never.

Observation Check.

This past Sunday’s message on honoring the Sabbath was the fourth sermon in the series “Can My Prayer and Fasting Really Work?”, a series of reflections on Isaiah chapter 58. We have been focused on this chapter during the forty-day period of prayer and fasting undertaken by Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene (January 1 through February 9).

How do we observe the Sabbath? Pastor Sam shared some points that we can remind ourselves of today:

• Sabbath rest- time to step away from our usual routine of work.
• Sabbath reflection- time to recall the goodness and greatness of God in past situations.
• Sabbath repentance- time to confess our failures in trusting and obeying our Lord in the present situations we face.
• Sabbath recreation- time to embrace the creativity and giftedness God has given us.
• Sabbath renewal- time to spend in the presence of God so that we can be made strong in Him.
• Sabbath re-commitment- time to declare our intent to remain faithful in honoring God by honoring His word.

It is perhaps all the more important that Bronx Bethany keep these points in mind as we move away from the contemplative stance of our prayer period. The temptation for some is to mindlessly rush back into their previous way of living life, moving back into the activities and routines that caused us to over-extend ourselves, with no inclination to engage Sabbath-keeping. It is a temptation we must resist with all our strength, with the help of the Lord Himself.

If someone were to follow you around for seven days, would their observation of your life confirm that you are a Sabbath-keeper?

Throw In The Trowel.

At the start of Bronx Bethany's forty-day period of prayer and fasting, there were a few days where the wind chill caused our local temperatures to feel as if they were well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Although it was bitterly cold, a small group of people braved the weather and came to church for prayer during that time. On a frigid Tuesday evening, as Pastor Martha shared from Isaiah 58, Pastor Sam heard from God: It was not just a Scripture passage for the handful of people present to hear. It was a word to be shared with the entire congregation.

We are blessed to have pastors that obey God's promptings. This past Sunday was the fourth in our series on prayer and fasting, and our senior pastor focused on Isaiah 58:13-14.

The thirteenth verse begins: "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath...". We are called to be intentional in our efforts to avoid the attitudes and actions that constitute Sabbath-breaking. The verse goes into some detail concerning the things we are to avoid:

• "doing as you please on My holy day";
• "going your own way";
• "doing as you please";
• "speaking idle words".

I have wondered about the double emphasis of "doing as you please", and perhaps the answer lies in Genesis chapter 11. Pastor Sam referenced the Tower of Babel incident (Genesis 11:1-9), in which the people decided that they would do as they pleased: build a tower in Shinar (Babylonia). Their reason for constructing a tower that would reach the heavens? "So that we may make a name for ourselves."

Apparently, the people's way to make a name for themselves was to make an icon of exaltation, encroaching upon the territory in which only the name of God was exalted.

That was a long time ago... and that was twenty-four hours ago... and that is right now. We're still trying to build Babel.

We live in a world where we continue to attempt self-exaltation by making inroads into God's territory, seeking to erase His great name and replace it with our own. And, the brick and mortar of our efforts is this act of doing what we please: resting on our own laurels, and making up our own life-rules, in defiance of God's desire for us to rest in Him and obey His word.

Today is a good day to avoid doing as we please.
Today is a good day to embrace Sabbath-keeping.

Lord God, help us! We are surrounded by messages that tell us to abandon rest and to rush through our lives, building systems and social mores that fly in the face of Your love and truth. Today we lay down our bricks and mortar. Why should we build a frail structure when You have already set forth a glorious kingdom? Give us grace to hear and obey You. Give us grace to rest in You.

The Genise Formerly Known As An Artist.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on My holy day,
If you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
And if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please and speaking idle words,
Then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13-14)


Towards the end of yesterday's sermon Pastor Sam touched upon a subject that we often don't discuss out loud: the abandonment of things that bring us joy.

Whether it is art, songwriting, walks in the park, or something else, we are often guilty of having laid aside "non-paying" activities in favor of doing things that will result in some sort of paycheck. It's the logical thing to do: times are hard, and money has to be earned. But in the laying aside of the things that bring us joy, our hearts can become hardened and our countenances downcast.

Pastor Sam challenged us to understand Sabbath rest as not simply a day off, but a day in which we engage in the things that God has provided us for our pleasure and His glory. It is the one day each week that we can set aside to pick up the paintbrush, grab a few sheets of manuscript paper, lace up the hiking boots, or do some other joy-filled activity.

My prayer for us all is that, as 2014 progresses, we can eradicate from our narrative the phrase "I used to be a...".

Are you an artist?
Are you a songwriter?
Are you an avid hiker?
On the day of Sabbath rest, don't do what you please: do what pleases you.
Rediscover, and reclaim, what you are.

Hater Lover.

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. (Isaiah 58:10)

In this past Sunday's sermon, we were reminded that Isaiah 58 calls us to return to what was once a basic cultural value: sharing and caring.

There was a time where it was not unusual to see people, whether themselves rich or poor, freely extend a helping hand to neighbors in need. However, our pastor took the reflection on neighborliness to another level by referencing Exodus 23.

If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. (Exodus 23:4-5)

We are called to demonstrate sharing and caring to those we know; to the stranger; to those who love us; and to those who hate us. The Exodus passage, in particular, makes it clear that the act of sharing and caring is risky. It may involve difficult or dangerous labor on our part. It may result in continued hatred or malice being poured upon us from our enemies and those who hate us. Our purpose in sharing and caring is not to gain friends nor accolades, but to make space for the light and love of God to be experienced through our actions. As Isaiah 58:10 reminds us, light can dispel darkness when God's people are found spending themselves on behalf of those in need. It is the sort of light that blesses others, and it is also the means by which our own petitions are heard and answered.

Pastor Sam asked a question on Sunday that I would like us to consider today: When is the last time we shared sacrificially?

Fast. Pray. Share. Care.

Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:13-14)

Forty-Nine At Forty-Nine.

During this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam mentioned an old sermon written by John Wesley. Catalogued simply as Sermon 49, it is an appropriate message for Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene as we approach the middle of our 49^th year of ministry.

The sermon, titled The Cure of Evil-Speaking, focused on the text found in Matthew chapter 18, verses 15 through 20. Wesley’s concern was that Christians, even under the guise of offering prayer support and genuine concern, violate the rule of God as found in this Scripture. How? By choosing to speak of persons, whether in truth or in falsehood, in the absence of the person. As Pastor Sam noted, absent people are unable to defend themselves, and often we speak of people differently in their absence than we speak when they are present with us.

The Scripture passage gives a clear protocol for addressing concerns of the spiritual community. First, we are to speak to the second party directly, and one-on-one.  If the person refuses to repent, then we are to attempt a second dialogue, taking a second believer (two-on-one) in the hopes of bringing the person to repentance. Wesley offers this petition: “If ye must be distinguished, whether ye will or no, let this be the distinguishing mark… ‘He censures no man behind his back: By this fruit ye may know him.’”

For most of us, it is not difficult to agree that we should not speak falsely of others, nor should we be accusatory, outside of their presence. Every person deserves opportunity for defense. The greater challenge, I believe, is to be transformed into a community which chooses even not to speak truth of others outside of their presence. Every person deserves opportunity for repentance, and our Lord Jesus has laid out the plan which He approves.

Let us pray that God will give us His grace, so that we can speak to each other with love and humility. Let us live life as a loving community, aware of the love and power of God, and conscious of His desire that no one be lost. Let us repent from, and renounce, all forms of evil speaking.

“The Lord enable us thus to love one another, not only ‘in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth,’ even as Christ hath loved us.” –John Wesley

Consortium Agreement?

Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;

you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’

You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you

and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully. (Isaiah 58:9, NET Bible)

Sunday’s sermon was the third in the series “Can My Prayer and Fasting Really Work?”, a series we have been focused on during this forty-day period of prayer and fasting being undertaken by our local church (January 1 through February 9). We have learned that our time of praying and fasting is not merely a season of petitioning God, but is a season of petitioning in tandem with obedience to God.

Pastor Sam shared with us an important point concerning prayer and fasting for the Christian: our prayer and fasting must be “accompanied by essential features that God looks for among those who identify themselves as His people.” The Scripture reveals to us these essential features. At Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, we have been taking time to reflect on the essentials as recorded in Isaiah chapter 58.

In verse 9 of the chapter, we note that God warns us against finger-pointing and malicious talk. Our pastor referred to this sort of behavior as a diabolic consortium. It is the sort of behavior that moves Christians into an alliance with the devil himself, whose way of existence is to accuse and find fault with people.

The challenge with abandoning accusation and malice is that, for some in our community, it is culturally appropriate to find fault and express displeasure. The knee-jerk response is to, as our pastor said, “wake up in the morning and find something to be critical about.” However, we are encouraged by Scripture to change our ways, abandon our habit and/or cultural heritage of pointing out others’ faults, and instead seek God’s help in redeeming us from our own faults.

Do we long to be expressions of God’s character in the earth? Then let us resign from membership in the diabolic consortium.

Trade blaming for blessing.

May I Have Your Attention Please?

"You wonder why the LORD pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble." (Isaiah 58:3a, Contemporary English Version)

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted a few reasons that we sometimes do not receive a response from God:

We are praying for things that have potential to hurt us. Our pastor noted: "We will not get God to give us that which is harmful for us simply because we are throwing a tantrum, because we are not eating for forty days, and because we have gotten our friends to agree that we are going to make a lot of noise. There are some things that it is not in your interest to get it... If you persevere in prayer, He will take you to where you should be."

We are not petitioning God for the thing we claim to want. Pastor Sam reminded us of James 4:2b: We do not have because we do not ask God. If God were to give us something we did not ask Him for, we may think we gained it because of our own intellect or beauty or strategy. Our Lord's desire is that we continually seek after Him, trusting Him to work out His will in us.

We are asking God for things that we will only use to satisfy our own lusts. In James 4:3 we are shown what it means when a person is "asking amiss": the reason for the petition is not to honor God, but to engage in promotion of self or in the denigration of another. Our pastor referenced Genesis 4:1-7: Cain opted to give a self-serving offering rather than the offering which God had ordained as satisfactory to Himself. The result? God did not regard Cain's offering.

Do we find ourselves in a position today where it seems God is not regarding us or the prayers we offer? Let us examine our hearts. Let us spend time in the presence of our Father. Let us wait on Him in prayer. He will open our eyes and hearts to recognize His interests, and to pray according to His will.

Checkout Lines.

In last Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam noted that the word of the Lord through Isaiah (see Isaiah 58:6-9a) was echoed in the New Testament. As we close out this week of reflection on God's chosen fast, let's take time to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25.  

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-46, NET Bible