2-3-21   THOUGHTS

In the following passage area, God contends with his people over BEING REAL! It is "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain”.  They seek God day by day and delight to know His ways,” yet they are abusing their brethren for profit.  God says, “You come to worship to FIND YOUR OWN DESIRE!”   I hear frequently “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!”   They had not learned that!
And again I can hear Jesus saying “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Isa 57:15-21  For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. 16  "For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made. 17  "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. 18  "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, 19  Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "and I will heal him." 20  But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. 21  "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."                                                                    [we continue in chapter 58]
Isa 58:1-7   "Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins. 2  "Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God. 3  ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. 4  "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. 5  "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? 6  "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?
 "And who is my neighbor?"  Luke 10:29b   The story that follows involves an outcast Samaritan, a cream of the crop Priest and an upstanding Levite?  I shall think on this!

My Prayer:
Lord God of heaven and earth, help us to be sincere and real as we walk before you.  Remove all inconsistencies in our lives.  Help us to be aware of presumptuous sin. Open our eyes always to the “mote-beam” problem.  Teach us to overcome the flesh, and conquer our own desire!  May we put to death the selfish parts of our being that we may worship you in spirit and in truth.
In Jesus precious name,           Amen