Friday, March 4, 2011

Well, I've been awake since about two, so I decided that I would stop stareing at the wall and just get some coffee going.  Within seconds of getting out of bed my wife and two daughters all decided it was time to get up too.  So, I figured that I would get on and post a little something since I have so much more free time this morning. 

The youth group has been learning about modern day slavery and I've been really excited to see the youth become fired up over what they've been learning and seeing.  Last Wednesday, we read through Isaiah 58, and it is a great scripture for many Christians to reacquaint themselves with on a regular basis.  Isaiah itself is a great book (okay they're all good books, but Isaiah's one of my favorites); I just enjoy how Isaiah stands as a constant reminder of the devotion GOD really expects from his people.


Isaiah 58

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back.  Raise your voice like a trumpet.  Declare to MY people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.  For day after day they seek ME out; they seem eager to know MY ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its GOD.  They ask ME for just decisions and seem eager for GOD to come near them.  'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and YOU have not seen it?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and YOU have not noticed?'

Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?"  (1-5)


GOD has this beautiful way of punching us in the throat at times.  This is not the most enjoyable way to be reminded of GOD's disgust when HE sees us just going through the motions.  There are a lot of things that we can do on a daily basis that allow us to feel like we've been doing GOD's will, and then turn around and wonder why HE isn't holding up HIS side of the bargin. 

Just for clarification, GOD lets us know that HE is watching all of our actions and is really aware of how important things are to us.  Sometimes we pray for healing or for people to open their lives to CHRIST's saving grace, but we're not willing to even change our own lives.  We're very quick to remember that we are saved by grace and not works, but do we sometimes use that as an excuse whenever somebody tells us to get off our duff and start living a life worthy of our SAVIOR?  You are correct when you say that we are saved by grace, thank GOD we are saved by grace!  However, let's finish the entire statement...

we are saved by grace, but we live by faith. 

Remember in James that GOD tells us that faith, without deeds, is dead!  As GOD continues in Isaiah, that is exactly what HE explains to us.

“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 him, 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.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 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.  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.  Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

“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 or speaking idle words, then your will find you joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”

THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.  (6 – 14)


So now that we have been exhorted by the LORD, let’s go and do it better today!

1 comment:

  1. This was great. Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete