Loose the chains!

I am a little late with the devotion today...sorry! Wow is it hot or what here in Tennessee??? This time of year is not my favorite as I do not fair well in the heat! On to the devotion.

Here in Isaiah 58:5-6 as we continue on to discover if we are sharing the love of Christ in us with others God gets right down to what he expects from us! Here are the verses:


5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

6 "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?

First of all in verse 5 God points out that we are not just to humble ourselves during a fast. It should be a continual characteristic for a follower of Christ. Again he was pointing out that they were putting on a good show by bowing and doing what was normal in their day with the sack cloth and ashes. But once their fast and showing off was done they went right back to their true selves...proud and arrogant!

Verse 6 God tells us what he expects...to help those who are in need. Those who are being taken advantage of. He tells us to break every yoke. Now lets think about this for a moment. When is the last time we have taken a stand for someone??? I am not talking about your wife or son or daughter because that is natural for us to do. I am talking someone who can't help themselves like the unborn or the elderly or the poor. Well what about it? This is what Jesus did and set the example for us. We even need to help those who can help themselves...Jesus did. I am thinking of the woman at the well. She could have helped herself many times in her life and walked away from adultery but she didn't. Did Jesus outcast her??? No he helped her and told her where she can get living water...through HIM!!

So my brothers and sisters are we humble and helping others and sharing the love of Christ or are we proud and arrogant...putting on a good show but not fooling God???

Sleep on this tonight and stay cool cause it is hot out there!

God bless...Tom