A Well-Watered Garden

It frustrated God like crazy.  Folks were praying and practicing their rituals religiously but under the surface they had no heart for what really mattered to God.  God lamented their superficiality -

Day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
They seem eager for God to come near them -
or as The Message says,
'they love having me on their side.'  Isaiah 58:2

But their hearts were as dry as dust.  Their Sabbath practice was actually mal-practice, observing their fasts but living by their fists; they appeared humble on the outside, but inwardly they were proud, self-serving and exploitive. (v. 3) And God had had enough of it.

Isaiah sketched out for them what a God-honoring faith might look like,
focused on justice and concern for neighbor, rather than religious ritual. "Untie the cords of the yoke and set the oppressed free. Share your food with the hungry, shelter the homeless and clothe the naked. Spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and work to satisfy the needs of the oppressed. Isaiah 58:6-7

If you live this way, God said, you will experience a deep renewal of both your inner and outer lives. ‘The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.’ Isaiah 58:8-11.

A well-watered garden. What a vibrant picture of a life alive with purpose and joy, a life flowing with abundance like the Garden of Eden. I believe that's God’s design for every person on the planet.  God intended for all of us to live in Eden and for Eden to flow through us.

That's what the new creation will be like - people who experience God’s Joy just can’t keep the pleasure for themselves, especially when they see the suffering of others.  Isaiah spelled out how we can do begin to implement this new creation vision in the midst of the brokenness of the old. 

There are hundreds of stories of people who have become well-watered gardens by 'spending thyemselves on behalf of the hungry and working to satisfy the needs of the oppressed.' 

The late Dr. John Stott is a fine example of someone who understood that faith without works is a contradiction.  He personally invested his energy, time and money on behalf of hundreds of students, pastors and leaders in the developing world.  His example and teaching  helped contemporary evangeliscals around the globe to re-discover the partnership between social engagement and proclaiming Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.  

I think Isaiah would have appreciated John Stott's ministry.  Perhaps they're both sipping iced tea somewhere, maybe discussing Somalia with Mother Theresa.

For the Life and Passion of John Stott see  http://www.johnstottmemorial.org/life-passion/ or Christianity Today - John Stott Has Died

Read Stott Lausanne Paper on Evangelism and Social Responsibility: An Evangelical Commitment.
 
Images:
Candles ... Garden - Terra Brown ... John Stott