The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 58:5-7,
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
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?"
Israel was accused of having a form of godliness but their hearts were really not engaged. They kept observances, but really only nibbled around the edges what the Lord intended for them to do. They put on a show, but their lives failed to manifest hearts given to God.
I recall, after teaching a class on a Sunday morning at church in a passage of John's gospel that mentioned baptism, a founding elder accosted me during the break between Sunday School and the worship service. In the sanctuary he ripped me apart for not discussing in class the aspects of baptism as he saw them. (And, I have to say he was less than fully informed from the Scriptures about baptism...) Rather than inviting me to a cup of coffee to discuss perceived differences, he felt it important to dress me down on the spot. He, by God, was going to insure the doctrinal purity of the fellowship! He was not going to have it any other way!
Yet, I read in Colossians 3:12-15a, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."
Just as Israel put on a show of serving the Lord, while their hearts were in another place, so we sometimes can find ourselves there as well. I know I have.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?
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?"
Israel was accused of having a form of godliness but their hearts were really not engaged. They kept observances, but really only nibbled around the edges what the Lord intended for them to do. They put on a show, but their lives failed to manifest hearts given to God.
I recall, after teaching a class on a Sunday morning at church in a passage of John's gospel that mentioned baptism, a founding elder accosted me during the break between Sunday School and the worship service. In the sanctuary he ripped me apart for not discussing in class the aspects of baptism as he saw them. (And, I have to say he was less than fully informed from the Scriptures about baptism...) Rather than inviting me to a cup of coffee to discuss perceived differences, he felt it important to dress me down on the spot. He, by God, was going to insure the doctrinal purity of the fellowship! He was not going to have it any other way!
Yet, I read in Colossians 3:12-15a, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."
Just as Israel put on a show of serving the Lord, while their hearts were in another place, so we sometimes can find ourselves there as well. I know I have.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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