Day 9 | Is The Problem You?
January 17th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Isaiah 58:3-9
Do you think the Lord wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship? 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.
“Why are you not paying attention to me, God?! WHY? I’m even fasting…I thought you were supposed to come through for me – what’s going on?!”
We’ve all felt that way at points, haven’t we? As though, no matter how hard we try, no matter what we do, God is just…distant, uncaring of our situation. This hard passage from the prophet Isaiah challenges us to consider that it might be our behavior (not just motives, which are easier to repent) that is preventing God from flooding in on our behalf. In the case of the Israelites, they were piously checking the boxes of religious discipline while ignoring the command to love their neighbors.
What are you fasting for? Is it a demonstration for God and your friends in the church? What action is God calling you to as you engage in this season of fasting? As you intentionally make room for more God in your life through fasting, are you intentionally serving others in love? Fasting for the purpose of solidarity with the poor and hungry is worse than useless if it is not accompanied or followed by righteous action on behalf of those who suffer. Don’t let your inaction be the thing that gets in the way of God moving in and through you this season.
