Isaiah 58

So it begins...

Last week I was reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and he quoted Isaiah 58. He said it was worth the read, and I agreed. Through this chapter, God is teaching me (not has taught; is teaching) that I, just like the Israelites, must be careful of the tendency to, "seem eager... to know [God's] ways" and "seem eager for God to come near" without meaning it in my heart. God tells Israel that their religious activities and prayers are useless. He says, "you cannot [do] as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high". How horrible is that? If we pretend to be one thing, doing religiousy type stuff and then go right back into sin the very next moment, God says our prayers won't even be heard.

But He does not end there. God begins to tell Israel, and me, how to properly do "Religion". We are meant to "loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free... to share [our] food with the hungry... and not turn away from [our] own flesh and blood." And here is my favorite part...

"Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then righteousness will go before you and the splendor of the Lord will be your protection. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say:

Here I Am."

-Eric