So, I’m in Thailand, on Day 1 of a 73 day adventure.
This trip is in part an attempt to redeem what has been quite simply a pretty amazingly awful year.
It’s also a bit of an experiment in living out a passage of scripture that God has been bringing to my attention for several months. There are some incredible challenges and promises contained in Isaiah Ch 58, where God’s people where doing all the ‘right’ things, acting really pious and holy on the outside and complaining that God wasn’t paying attention to their fasting. God’s stinging rebuke comes through Isaiah in v 6-7
“No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help”.
I’m pretty familiar with these words and other similar words that run all through scripture expressing God’s heart for the poor and exploited. It’s only really a few months ago that I paid much attention to the words that follow directly after:
“If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind’.
The rest of the chapter continues on with several more promises that outline the life and light that comes to those who don’t just act the ‘right’ way, but those that actually ‘do’ care for the poor, exploited and vulnerable.
Over the last few months, as I’ve found myself in a season of grieving, transitioning and starting over, I’ve felt so strongly challenged to keep my gaze outward and to focus on the needs of those who have sorrow and troubles far, far greater than my own. Over the last few years, God has been stirring my heart for the people of Thailand and more specifically for young people who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. I’ve been advocating for The Sold Project and Urban Light since visiting Thailand on a ten day trip in January 2010. On this visit, I’ll be volunteering with both organisations and connecting a little with a couple of others. My plan is relatively simple. Spend intentional time connecting with God each day and out of that love and serve those who are vulnerable and exploited wherever I have opportunity to do so.
The next two days see me visiting friends from many years ago who currently serve with UNOH (Urban Neighbours Of Hope) who work in an area of Bangkok known as Klong Toey slum.
I would so value your prayer while I am away, particularly that God would use me, in spite of my weakness and brokenness, to show His love to people in these days and to reveal Himself to me in a greater way also.
January 20th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
[...] few months ago, Adrian Rowse began a 73-day journey in Thailand called the “Isaiah 58 Experiment.” HE had first visited Thailand back in January 2010 on a SOLD vision trip, and he returned [...]