Verse of the Day 5/9

Verse of the Day 5/9

Isaiah 58:6-8

English Standard Version

6 "Is not this the fast that I choose:

    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed[ go free,
    and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Our Monday Men's Bible study reviewed Isaiah 58 this morning.  In verse 1 the prophet is called to cry aloud and sound off like a trumpet to prounounce judgment on a people who thought they were seeking and following God but in reality were only going through the motinons and pleasing themselves while quarreling and fighting and not serving those who were in need.  They were called to release people from what bound them, set the people free and to feed the hungry, take care of the homeless and needy.  It is a message for us today as well.

It is not a matter of fasting, devotions or other actions themsleves that God desires, it is a matter of the heart and living out what we believe, making a difference in our world.  We do so under His guidance and direction, following the Spirit's promptings.

James Smith writes, "

O for more grace! 
O for more conformity to Jesus!
O for more fellowship with Jesus!

I find more and more, that it does not do to look to creatures at all. I must . . .
  look to Christ,
  expect from Christ, and
  seek in all things to honor Christ. 
May I labor for Christ alone, and expect my reward from His blessed hands. 

As Jesus lived for me--so I would live for Him!
As Jesus suffered for me--so I would suffer for Him!

As Jesus died for me--so I am willing to die for Him, if He required it at my hands. 

This is what pleases the Lord.  May we look to Christ, expect from Christ and seek to honor Christ in our lives today.  In doing so the Lord will go before us and  He will also be our "rear guard".  We won't have to worry about looking behind.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Isaiah 58:1-11

English Standard Version

True and False Fasting

58 "Cry aloud; do not hold back;
    lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to my people their transgression,
    to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily
    and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that did righteousness
    and did not forsake the judgment of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments;
    they delight to draw near to God.
3 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
    Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,[a]
    and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
    and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day
    will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose,
    a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
    and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
    and a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 "Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.