Tuesday
Read Isaiah 58:1-12
The Lord says,
“Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! 2They
worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my
laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure
in worshipping me.”
3 The people ask, “Why
should we fast if the Lord never
notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?”
The Lord says to them, “The truth is that at the same time as
you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. 4Your
fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of
fasting will make me listen to your prayers? 5When you fast, you
make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass, and spread
out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think
I will be pleased with that?
6 “The kind of fasting I
want is this: remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and
let the oppressed go free. 7Share your food with the hungry and open
your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to
wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.
8 “Then my favour will shine
on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will
always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. 9When
you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.
“If you put an end to oppression,
to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word;
9When you pray, I will answer you. When you call
to me, I will respond.
“If you put an end to oppression,
to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; 10if you give
food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around
you will turn to the brightness of noon. 11And I will always guide
you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will
be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never
runs dry. 12Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins,
building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who
rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.”
Think
So much evil and
discrimination takes place - claiming to be in the name of God. The 'fast', ' the 'faith', the religion that
the Lord requires:
"....to share your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless poor
into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide
yourself from your own kin..." - Isaiah 58:7
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