From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 5:23 AM

Subject: 10-31-24 THOUGHTS

10-31-24    THOUGHTS  

The fast of God’s choosing is defined in verses 6-7!  We are viewing our worship to God this morning.  Israel did it’s formal “at Church” things while motivated by selfish things.  They were “doing their own pleasure” on the Holy Day, following their “own ways”!  They kept a “yoke” on the poor and needy!  God is here, telling them how rectify their problem as He relates awesome blessings as a result.  We must learn and practice “THE FAST OF GOD’S CHOOSING”!  We closed our class last night with verses 13-14.  The words in these verses hit me in a powerful way.   Jas 1:27   Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of [our] God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, [and] to keep oneself unstained by the world.    Matt 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Isa 58:6-14    "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? 7  "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  8  "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9  "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, 10  And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. 11  "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water  whose waters do not fail. 12  "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. 13  "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, 14  Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

My Prayer:
O God, may we see Your compassion toward Your creation, and be compassionate ourselves.  May we worship well as we love fully and continually.  Help us to desist from our own ways.  Teach us pure and undefiled religion in Your sight, O God.     In Jesus’ name,     Amen.