I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD.Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives. Then your light will shine like the dawning sun,and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance,and the glory of the LORD will defend you from behind. When you beg the LORD for help, he will answer, "Here I am!" Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Your honesty will protect you as you advance,and the glory of the LORD will defend you from behind. When you beg the LORD for help, he will answer, "Here I am!" Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel.
This is a scripture passage that I've heard a lot about these past couple of years. I've been guilty of sometimes using a Bible verse out of context to suit my own wants. I've heard other people do it as well. But, sarcastically speaking, I don't think that's what we're supposed to do when we read something from the Bible. It is what it is. Literal. No changey the wordie. With that being said, I look back at this passage again. Ok. Do I want to be a worshiper of the One True God? "Check." Remove the chains of those unjustly imprisoned. Hmmm. I don't think I know anyone in jail. (Let's keep moving...) Free those who are abused. "I call the police when I see something that doesn't seem right. That's good, right?" Share your food with those that are hungry. "I share my lunch when someone forgets theirs, so that counts for something." Share your home with the poor & homeless. " Hold on a minute. What the heck?? I'm supposed to open my home to somebody that could steal from me or much worse?" Give clothes to those in need. "I donate to Goodwill, so I'm good to go." Don't turn away your relatives. Ouch. (enough said.) These are things that I've thought about and dismissed thinking that 3 out of 7 ain't bad.
I think that God is saying that He doesn't want us going through the motions of loving and serving Him. He doesn't want empty words. He wants us to do the practical things like the stuff listed in Isaiah. That's what's important to Him. He doesn't care about our new carpet in the sanctuary, the amazing speaker that we have lined up, or the phenomenal guitar player. He wants our hearts to be lined up with His. We need to care about the things that break His heart.
THEN...that's when something wonderful happens. He promises that He'll answer and that our light will shine brightly and we'll be quickly healed. (among other things!) If we can just realign ourselves with the heart of God, so many things in our lives will fall into place! Hmmm. It's a difficult journey, being human and all. But I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. (with His help, of course!)
So now you know what drives me to go to Thailand where so many dark and nasty things become a lifestyle for so many people. It's not that I'm a great person; it's because I'm beginning to see and feel a glimpse of God's heart.
BTW, 16 days! (Yippee!)
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