Practice good worship acts

ISAIAH   CHAPTER 58

The Lord tells Isaiah to tell the people of Israel of their sins. Yet they come to the Temple every day and act pious and delighted to hear the Lord's laws. They wonder why the Lord is not impressed with their fasting for him or penance for him.

The Lord says the reason is because the people are living for themselves even while fasting and they keep right on oppressing their workers. What good is fasting, if you continue to fight and quarrel, asks the Lord. The kind of fasting he wants for them calls for them to free those who are wrongly imprisoned. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn.  Share food with the hungry and welcome the poor wanderers into your homes, says the Lord.

If the people do the things the Lord has asked, salvation would come like the dawn. As well as healing and godliness and the glory of the Lord will protect the people from behind and the Lord will respond quickly to their needs. He asks that they stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors. Then the Lord will guide you continually and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring and your children will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.

Keep the Sabbath day holy, says the Lord. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it as a delight as the Lord's Holy Day. Honor the Lord in all you do.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Worship in ancient times meant going to Temple every day, fasting and listening to Scripture readings. More important than correct worship is genuine compassion for the oppressed, poor and helpless.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? People in those days were acting pious. Going through the motions of attending church and listening to the scriptures. We do the same thing today. Many people think that church attendance will count to get them to heaven. Not true. You must have faith in Christ and be sincere in this belief. Fasting can help spiritually, but he also wants us to go beyond ourselves and spread kindness and generosity to others.

How many times during the past year have I pointed out the various ways that the Lord asks us to honor the Sabbath Day? His repetition means he wants to get his point across. Honoring the Sabbath, honors our God. Try your best to get out of your rut and relax on the Sabbath. It doesn't matter if you celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday or another day according to your faith- just do it! You have no excuse and I can promise you that relaxing on the Sabbath will become a lifetime habit.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.