April 8, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58.6-7)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

The phrase itself, “to each their own,” is said to have existed since the 1500s. However, the concept has existed far longer than that. The call and affirmation to “be your own person,” “do your own thing” and “live and let live” promotes individualization and separation of persons. Even the thought of “community” exists within the confines of a group of individuals who may or may not have anything more in common than they exist separately together. The call to “love your neighbor” was spoken by a God to His people with the understanding of a community which loved Him and themselves with fervor and intentionality. It was a true call to love the neighbor which existed outside of that community. The hope was to live in such a way with one another that the “other” who was dissimilar would desire to become similar in relation to God. Instead of that, factions and parties and outcasts were the order of the day. From inside the community of faith became the finger pointing of those who were anathema to them: the poor, the destitute, the afflicted, the diseased, the crippled, the blind, the unacceptable, the unwelcomed, the non-compliant, the sinner. Instead of building up the community of faith there was a tearing down of the community. The striving to be perfect only highlighted the imperfections which sin had brought into the world. Instead of seeing the God within they saw what they determined to those who were without God as evidenced by the list above and far more. So committed to “purification” were those finger-pointers that they convinced themselves they were without sin and thus blessed by God. Instead of living to “be like HIM,” it was a demand to “be like them.”

The truth of the matter is that the faith in God community was meant to be contrite and not contrary. They true appearance of God’s people was to be different from all the rest of the world not so much in their outward appearance but in the condition of their heart, mind, soul and spirit. Their inwardness toward God as vessels of His Holy Spirit was meant to be poured out on the world and not hidden. They were not to keep to themselves but to be themselves as of God in the midst of those who had not yet experienced His love and mercy. What happened was the transformation to become more like the world because being like God required too much. Of course, it did. It required to much of us because the effort expended did not include the most crucial element of life- God. Instead of the good ol’ southern “heapin’ helpin,’” it was thought to be satisfying to add or include a pinch or a dash. Strange to say that when Jesus taught that “having faith the size of a mustard seed” could result in moving mountains. (Matthew 17.20) We must keep in mind that Jesus was speaking against two paradigms which had become the norm. First, Jesus addressed “quantity versus quality.” The pervasive thought had become the norm that more possessions proved the claim of God’s blessing. Those who had more were presented as those who had great faith. In the life of Israel, especially by the time of Jesus’ ministry, this was everywhere and the rule of everything. Yet, Jesus spoke of quality and not quantity such as in the parable of “The Pearl of Great Price.” Second, Jesus addressed the consequence of such thinking which then put down those who had little to none of anything. They believed they would need more in order to receive God’s blessing. They were slaves to the “works righteousness” mentality at the opposite end of the spectrum. The words of Jesus promoted that having even a little faith, believing in it with one’s whole heart, was powerful and could accomplish what God had established for them to be and to do. This was the call to be contrite and humble before God, to love one another and others as they themselves were loved. Those who operated contrary to God’s commands and took it upon themselves to devolve God’s Word instead of being involved, might do “well” in this world but would gravely be disappointed in the next.

This is the premise of Isaiah 58 as God calls to mind the truth of what it means to be God’s people. Jesus would sum it up in His “a new command I give to you: love one another.” It wasn’t new as in original. It was new as in “eyes have been blinded so they cannot see the truth and ears deafened so they cannot hear the truth.” Jesus had come to reveal and restore, redeem and reconcile. He came “to make all things new.” He came to make things right by living out the Word of God before their very lives. It is the same call that God was issuing to Israel through Isaiah. It is the same call that Christ is issuing to the world through the Church.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.