- ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Isaiah 58:3 – This chapter was unpacking the way true fasting should look like and showing how this people’s idea of fasting was all wrong. They fasted for selfish reasons, not for the purposes we see God outline for them as to why fasting is important. So why do you do what you do for God? Whether it’s fasting or studying scripture or helping out at a food bank or even giving at church. Why are you doing it? Selfish reasons like for others to notice or to bribe God into a blessing can easy find their way into our motives. Be careful that the reason behind your service to God is true and holy. That you serve because you love Him, you know it pleases Him, and it allows you to fulfill the purpose He’s given you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1259
- Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Isaiah 58:2-3 – As we read these verses, there is an appearance of real righteous living coming from God’s people. After such righteous living, we see them calling unto God asking why He isn’t seeing their righteous acts and moving on their behalf. God then uses the rest of the chapter to reveal that He sees behind the façade of righteousness. Whether it was fasting or the Sabbath, they weren’t keeping these things to honor God, but they were tools to glorify and please themselves. Such “righteous” acts weren’t going to please the Lord or move Him to act. Let us then be willing to check our heart around the ways we serve the Lord. Whether its church attendance, daily scripture reading, serving at church, or giving; what’s our heart behind those actions and what our why? In Isaiah’s day these sorts of things were mingled with sin and selfishness, leaving them looking for God’s approval on their lives, but empty of such acknowledgement from the Lord. In this chapter God teaches that if we first live righteous and love those around us, then when we call upon him He will answer with “Here I am.” Be sure your actions of devotion to the Lord are free from sin and selfishness. Not so that God will finally answer you, but so our lives can be honoring to the Lord we follow. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2725
Daily DEVO 