Isaiah 57-60
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“Behind your doors and your doorposts you
have put your pagan symbols.” (57:8)
The
Discovery Bible tells me that the doorframes of Israelite homes bore
symbols of dedication to God.
Isaiah tells us that behind those doors, the Israelites kept pagan
symbols that showed their hearts’ true allegiance.
Then in chapter 58 God says, “They’re
busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they’re a nation of
right-living people … But they also complain, ‘Why do we fast and you don’t
look our way?” (58:2-3 The Message)
He tells them that when they fast they
are basically doing it for show.
They want people to see that they are fasting, but at the same time they
keep doing as they please, quarreling with one another and being
oppressive.
God says, “Is not this the kind of
fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of
the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the
hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked,
to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
God does not like hypocrisy and He does
not like lukewarm faith. James 2:17
says, “Faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Our actions should match up with our
heart.
“Then your light will break forth like
the dawn.” (Isaiah 58:8)
For me personally, God has shown me that
I need to fix this area in my own life in how I speak to my family at
home. Why is it that when no one
is around it is easier to snap at a family member with harsh words? Why does my patience seem to disappear
quicker when no one is looking? I
guess maybe because we are the most comfortable around our family and don’t
worry as much about what they think?
But that shouldn’t be an excuse.
My family deserves more of me … more self-control, more patience, more
kind words.
Anyone else have an area in their life
where their actions aren’t necessarily matching up with their heart? Where the appearance on the outside is
different than what is behind closed doors?
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