When we care for the least of us we show our love for God. Our faith shows up in our good works because God cares for them.
The 2 greatest commands are to love God above all and love and care for others in the same way that He cares for us.
Jesus is the Good News.
'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! '" (Romans 10:15).
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him
Jesus is the express image of our invisible God. He was the same God who created everything in Genesis. Through Him ALL things were spoken into existence. He has always been the physical representation of the Godhead. He stepped out of the Godhead without losing any of His deity. He laid aside His glory to be able to communicate with man.
Jesus was always in control but He chose to lay it aside for a period of time for our salvation.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Hebrew 1:1 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Jesus Christ is the creator of the universe. The very beings that HE created He allowed to crucify Him in order to save them from separation from God for eternity. He took on the sins of the world.
The crucifixion of Jesus was never the end to the story of salvation. It was just the beginning. As Henry Morris states, "His cross and His death were intensely cruel and hideous, yet they have been amazingly magnetic, attracting men and women of all times, places and types to Himself, just as He had prophesied."
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of our faith, the gospel of peace we carry into the darkness of this world. The more we bear witness about the wondrous acts of Jesus, the more our lives are changed, and the more we are compelled to spread His message to others. First 5
Too often, with “big world” (especially looking for that “cloudless day”), the news feels unnerving, in your face and stoked with anger and darkness. No wonder we feel as if our control is demoted. No wonder we ask, how can I make a difference in this broken world if the story is still befuddling and unfolding?
That’s just it; we make a difference in the “small world”.
We shine a light. in the “small world”.
The small world is the place where we stand. Today.
Yes, with questions, inconvenience, pain, messy stories and all. But, the small world is where we care, where we give a damn. Where we hug (even if it is virtually) and give and try and love and fall down and get up and repent and cry and embrace and challenge and reconcile and heal. And make sure we tell those not doing so good, “We’ve got you.” The small world that we touch, and begin to heal. Sabbath Moments
Isaiah 58:6-9
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ The New King James Version
Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos.
Genuine repentance is evidenced by their behavior—how they treat the poor and hungry. Genuine repentance will lead to genuine blessing. Fasting without genuine repentance was useless. Faithlife Study Bible
To loose, to undo, to let … go free, and break every yoke are synonyms of genuine righteousness. Yoke is a metaphor for social oppression.
The light dawned with the advent of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible
To be liberal and merciful is more acceptable to God than mere fasting. Many who seem humble in God’s house, are hard at home, and harass their families. But no man’s faith justifies, which does not work by love.
Those who do justly and love mercy, shall have the comfort, even in this world. Good works will bring the blessing of God, provided they are done from love to God and man, and wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Nehemiah 5:10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!
Nehemiah 5:11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”
Isaiah 58:10
If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
No comments:
Post a Comment