WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020

REFLECTA vital relationship with God means caring about people MORE than performance.

REMEMBER God doesn’t just want me/us to act pious. God wants my/our behavior to reflect my/our relationship with Him. REQUESTLord, I admit that my self-centered-ness can sometimes interfere with the way that I treat others. Fill my heart/our hearts with compassion to help those who cannot help themselves. Deliver me/us from empty rituals so that I/we may worship in a way that pleases you in word and in deed. In Jesus name. Amen.

SUBMITTED BY Pastor Gina M. Stewart

The Fast God Chooses

“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 them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.” -Isaiah 58:6-7

In this passage, the prophet Isaiah offers a stern critique and rebuke to the people of Israel. They were fasting and seeking the Lord’s righteous judgements and blessings, but God was not impressed. Verse 3-4 says, “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.”

Although they were faithful in their ritual of fasting, it was only an outward form of godliness. Their worship of God was nothing more than religious ritual - going to the temple every day, fasting and listening to scripture readings. They failed to consider the fact that they denied help to the weak and oppressed the poor. They excelled at their worship practices but failed in loving people. Their fasting days were characterized by strife and contention which dissolved into physical violence. Isaiah reminded them that it was because of their sinful ways that God was not listening to their prayers.

Religious people tend to miss the fact that God wants our thoughts and our actions to be a reflection of our relationship with Him. This is the kind of fast that gets God’s attention. Fasting from social media, food, shopping, TV, electronics, etc. is good when we devote that time to spending it with God, but it is not enough. God requires actions beyond our words and a commitment to help others. God expects us to help feed and clothe those who are hungry, support the homeless and those who have lost their jobs and can’t provide for their family as we are able. Isaiah says if we show God’s love to others, our relationship with God will grow stronger (Isaiah 58:11-12).