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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 6:00 AM

Subject: 9-14-23 THOUGHTS

9-14-23   THOUGHTS

Israel looked good in sackcloth and ashes and in their fasting.  God says “you find your desire”!  The show of worship is then compared to the real essence of life!   "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?”    1John 3:17-19   But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19  We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

Isa 58:3-14    ‘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? 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:
May we never hide ourselves from our own flesh, dear God.  May we worship You in Spirit and in truth, and may our truth include taking care of those who cannot care for themselves.  Remove us from seeking our own pleasure and our own ways.  May Your love control our lives!  
In the name of Jesus we pray,      Amen.