PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 57-58
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen…” (Isaiah 58:6)
These chapters contrast the sincere God-seeker and the religious self-seeker.
God is not seeking religious activity – fasting, singing, offerings, church going.
If these are an expression of a heart that loves God and people, then he welcomes it.
But when love is missing, it is all just empty religious noise (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
“To loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? … to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)
This sounds like Jesus: “whatever you did for the least of these…” (Matthew 25:40).
This is what God wants: to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with God! (Micah 6:8).
Jesus explains that this is how the sheep and goats will be separated.
Justice and mercy and humility are the fruit of one that knows Jesus.
Those who know God’s mercy and who show God’s mercy… these are the sheep!
I am gently convicted to consider how I am stewarding God’s grace to me.
I am being encouraged to reconsider my religious activity and priorities.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be ‘religious’ in the way God wants me to be ‘religious’.
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day,…then you will find your joy in the Lord”. Keeping the Lord’s day is about finding rest and having the time to connect, to reflect on life and on my walk with God. Being closer to the Lord brings peace even in the face of challenge. Lord, I do appreciate Sabbath rest -I know I hurt myself when I do as I please and forget to honour the day as you intended: like walking in the garden in the cool of the day!
The joy of the Lord God i my strength. That joy can only be found when I walk in His way and do His will – serving Him, doing His will and not going my own way. I need to live the JOY principle – Jesus first, Others second, Yourself/myself last. This is the way to serve Him – putting others before oneself for they will see that we/I am Christian by our love – love in action being guided by the Lord always. Living for Jesus being a Kingdom builder walking daily in His Sonshine.
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
Oh, the joy of the LORD is my strength.
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
For the joy of the LORD is my strength
If you want joy you must sing for it
If you want joy you must sing for it
If you want joy you must sing for it
For the joy of the LORD is my strength
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
If you want joy you must shout …jump for it..
For the joy of the LORD is my strength