to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
13-14"If you watch your step on the Sabbath
and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'
making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!
Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
Yes! God says so!" Isaiah 58:6-14 (The Message)
Our pastor preached a powerful sermon from this passage several weeks ago. We are so blessed to sit under a leader who has always been a good preacher (full of knowledge of God's word, rooted and grounded in truth and able to effectively deliver a message that stirs us, convicts us, moves us to change). What is even more powerful is that he has also become a wonderful pastor, he is able to care for the spirits of those God has entrusted to his care. I have been honored to sit in counseling sessions with him and I see the compassion and understanding he has for those who are hurting. When he began to preach from Isaiah 58, I knew this wasn't just another sermon. This passage is packed full of practical, applicable truth and I know that my pastor is striving to live this kind of life before he ever challenges us to do so.
Pastor T broke things down into "bite size, chewable pieces for us. I am adding some of my own thoughts and applications to these as well.
*Be available to your own families. Verse 8 calls us to keep our priorities straight! This is a daily challenge, but we must, we MUST, minister in our own homes FIRST. There are countless souls who walk away from God and from the church simply because their fathers and mothers made time to minister to everyone except their own families. This is something we must, we MUST, get right! Nothing matters more than giving our children and spouses the best of ourselves. I ask my boys, weekly, how I am doing in this realm. "Are you getting enough of my time? Do you feel that I pay attention to you when you speak to me? What else do you need from me?" I want them to be honest with me so that I can improve in the areas where I am weak. I refuse to allow myself to be in church meetings, doing "good things" more than one or two nights a week. My sons are growing up so fast and this window of opportunity with them is growing smaller every day. Lord, help me to be FAITHFUL to my number one ministry, being a mother and wife!
Beyond our home, I believe we are called to be available to our own flesh and blood. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Most of us come from broken families and relationships are not what they should be. We can find great comfort in the verse that says, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18 (NKJV) God knows that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much we exercise self control and keep our mouths shut, no matter what we do, some will choose to reject us, defile us, accuse us and ostracize us. He says, "If it is possible, as much as it depends on you..." There is much comfort in knowing that He lived this out, He was the perfect example for us all!
*Stop gossiping about others' sins. Verse nine "puts my money where my mouth is." Ouch! This past week, Pastor T expounded upon this verse. He defined "gossip" (noun) in Hebrew as "a scandal monger, one who travels about, slandering, carrying on tales, a tale bearer." In Greek, "a whisperer, a charmer of snakes." That gives us quite a visual! I know this is an area that I struggle in and fight, every single day. God, help me to see the faults and sins in my life with a magnifying glass and to look at others with grace! The book of Proverbs speaks of gossip often, stating that it betrays confidence (11:13), it separates close friends and causes hard feelings (16:28), gossip is like choice morsels of food, going to our inmost being and satisfying a craving (18:8), it fuels a fire (26:20). If we truly desire oneness with our Father, we must rid ourselves of gossip, slander and condemnation of others.
*Cancel debts, forgive. Verse 6 shoots straight to the heart! The Bible is full of scriptures about forgiveness. Every day we choose to forgive or to hold on to grudges. Forgiving is not forgetting! The process would be so much easier if we could develop amnesia every time someone wrongs us. Often, forgiveness comes in layers, like an onion. I forgive someone for something they spoke over me. I think that I'm "done," but a few months later, the Lord reveals that my heart is still unsettled, so I go deeper. I believe He will not overwhelm us or allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, so He takes His time revealing the depths of pain. Many who were raised in abusive homes and don't seem to be scarred deeply. They are able to allow negligent parents into their lives and don't seem to be bothered. Then, as they grow in their faith, the Lord begins to reveal the deep pain in their hearts and, with His help, they begin to peel back the layers of their emotional "onions." It is precious to watch people find deeper freedom in Jesus, as they forgive.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) For me, this passage gives the most clear picture of the consequences of unforgiveness. Father, as You have forgiven me, so I must forgive others.
*Quit blaming victims. Isaiah 58:9 has another powerful mandate. It's time to stop blaming others. If we could simply remember, "But for the grace of God, go I," we would surely cease pointing our fingers at others. One practical, convicting, heart breaking example comes to mind. In my recent journey of becoming aware of the horrors of human trafficking, I am aware of a mindset of many Christians in regard to prostitutes. "Well, she dresses that way, she must be asking to be treated that way." Or we may think, "She choose to work in a strip club, she wants to do that to her body." Wrong, wrong, wrong. While there are some who enter into that life willingly, there is not one who is glad she made that choice in the long run. I've heard stories of women who were wooed into prostitution because they watched "Pretty Woman" and believed that a "gentleman" would pick them up and rescue them from poverty, addiction, abuse and neglect. A few months later, all of them realized they were trapped and then could not find a way out. Let's stop looking at women who are scantily dressed or working on the corner with condemnation! Let's stop passing by the drunk on the park bench or the rebellious teen who is stealing us blind. Let's ask God to give us His eyes to see, His ears to hear, His heart to love!
*Get rid of unfairness. Defend those who are being mistreated. Verse 6 also talks about exploitation in the workplace. I would add to this, bullying. I read accounts weekly of children who are being bullied at school. When we see someone being mistreated, do we just stand by and watch? Do we protect ourselves or do we jump in and take a stand for righteousness? Are we more concerned about our comfort and safety or the well being of others? Jesus took a stand for us, it's time that we reflect that love and sacrifice by taking a stand for others!
*Give to the down and out. I believe this ties in with "quit blaming victims." Do we see someone who is hurting and assume that they deserve to be there, so that we can justify ignoring their need? I remember being at a crossroads several years ago. I was feeling the Lord pulling me from a certain group and the straw that broke the camel's back boiled down to these issues. We were made aware of someone who had intense needs--physical, financial, emotional and spiritual. I didn't know her personally, but as I heard about her condition, I began to weep. As I heard the response of the other "Christians" in the group, my weeping turned to lamenting. I felt like a fool, but I simply could not contain the anguish I felt. One person stated, "Well, I have not felt called to go visit her. I feel she needs to get alone, and find God." The next day, I picked up the phone and called this dear soul and began to visit her several times a month for a season. My husband gathered some other men to do some projects at her home to make it more accessible in her time of need. We must learn to give to those who are hurting and in need, we must not turn a deaf ear on their cries. Again..."But for the grace of God, go I..." None of us knows what the future holds. In a moment, we could be in a wheelchair, unable to work and provide for our families, being neglected and set aside by doctors and insurance companies. We may depend upon the kindness of others to carry us. What if the level of care we receive in our hour of need is equal to the level of care we've given to others? Would it be enough to carry us?
*Be generous to the homeless, hungry and naked. Verse 8 is also power packed with practical ways we can be His hands and feet. We serve a God who is personal and He doesn't leave us guessing! He lays out a clear plan. The premise of this entire passage is fasting. Verses 3-5 state, "The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?" He looks at our hearts! He's not interested in us performing the rituals of religion (fasting, prayer, worship, going to church) without the evidence of relationship with Him. Being generous and giving to those in need are evidences of relationship. If we have a home, we should open the doors to welcome in others. If we have food, we should share it with the hungry. If we see someone naked, or in rags, we can offer them one of our spare outfits. We have plenty, we have more than enough. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH WHAT HE'S GIVEN TO US? Will we hold on with clenched fists and proclaim, "It's mine! I worked hard for it! They don't deserve a handout!" Or, will we look up to heaven and declare, "God, You have been so good to me! I have all that I need, most of what I want and I have plenty to spare. Who do you want me to bless today?"
*Free the oppressed. Break chains of injustice. While this one may be intimidating for most of us, I want to sound an alarm! It is time for the church to arise and fight for freedom for those who are literally oppressed. In the past three months, my eyes have been opened wide to a reality that is beyond my comprehension. In our community, our nation and all around our world, human slavery exists. Men, women, boys and girls are being bought and sold every single day. They are being used for sex, for labor, and for military man power. This atrocity must end! Edmund Burke's quote tugs at our hearts, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." It is time for good men and women all around the world to rise up and do something! Since learning about this horror and beginning to speak out, I have been met with an array of responses. Some people are just shocked, having had no idea that such evil existed. Others have said, "Oh, I cannot deal with that." Really? Who CAN? Another person looked at me with absolute disgust when I handed her the flyer to come see a documentary exposing human trafficking. Her look was filled with horror, as if I were handing her an STD instead of a movie flyer. It's time to wake up! It's time to be shaken! We can rise up, a mighty army, to pray and intercede for those who are trapped in this darkness. I've heard so many stories of how Jesus came to women in these prisons of helplessness, abuse, horror. He revealed His kindness, love, gentleness and compassion. I am watching one lady walk toward her healing. Each time I see her, I see the veil of shame that cloaks her. She told me that coming to church, worshipping or being with other Christians is like going through another surgery. It is painful, but it is necessary for her healing. I told her this weekend that I am praying for that veil of shame to be LIFTED so that she can see the deep, deep love that Jesus has for her. He's moving, healing and restoring her life and I am watching a miracle unfold before me!
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
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