Feed
the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the
darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
Isaiah 58:10 NLT
It's back to school season. Everywhere you look, it's all that's advertised. Lots of charities looking for donations of school supplies, clothes, non-perishables for school lunches, etc. You may have your own family to outfit for school. So what do you do? Some people will skip lunches or give up sodas and use the money to donate to help others. Skip lunch? You mean, like fasting? Yes, if and only if, that's what God is speaking to your heart.
Isaiah 58:10 NLT
It's back to school season. Everywhere you look, it's all that's advertised. Lots of charities looking for donations of school supplies, clothes, non-perishables for school lunches, etc. You may have your own family to outfit for school. So what do you do? Some people will skip lunches or give up sodas and use the money to donate to help others. Skip lunch? You mean, like fasting? Yes, if and only if, that's what God is speaking to your heart.
So let's read
what He has to say about fasting in Isaiah 58 (New Living Translation).
What
good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting
will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the
motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress
in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?
No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
Do you really think this will please the Lord?
No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.
When
you strengthen and encourage and provide for someone who has less than you, you
are rebuilding. When you help a single parent (mom or dad or grandparent) by
providing for their child or children, you are restoring a home. Matthew 5
tells us, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. James 1:27
reads, Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means
caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world
corrupt you.
Christmas
isn’t the only season to shine...
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes and our hearts and our wallets to see the opportunities around us that will allow us to shine out of the darkness for Your glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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