What is it to come before the Lord? Do we come before Him with false humility? Do we purposefully think in our minds that we are to be submissive to God and let Him control our thought and desires? Do we come with thankfulness and joy? With repentant tears and a
broken heart for the sinful way which we have acted or thought? When we come before God it is with intentionality and thought. It is not out of a weary and tired habitual action.
Isaiah 58 is a very convicting passage. It talks of how our hearts should be. He describes what our actions should look like as we are being the messengers of the Good News. After telling what a fast should not be, look at how the fast is described in this passage (God speaking)
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
This is the mark of the Christian life. When we see wickedness we respond with love. When we the see oppressed we strive for freedom. Giving out of our abundance even if we don’t think we have any abundance, caring for and loving our fellow man. Then listen to the next words
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
O Christians let this be what our world, our city, our friends, our own families see in us!
Singing His Praises!
Mark