What Isaiah had to say about worship, it may be different than what you think...

 

Heart.

As Christ followers, our first response to any trial or difficulty should be to turn to Him. Seek Him is prayer and wait for His leading. When we see hard things around us, our first response should be to pray.

 

In this past year there have been events, on a global scale, that feel large and beyond anything we can impact. We may feel this is the time to step back, remind ourselves that we’re not of this world, and continue in prayer in our safe little corner.

 

True, we need to keep an eternal focus. This world isn’t our home, we’re only here for a time. But God’s not expecting us to just hold on and wait. He’s also called us to be His hands and feet.

 

His words from Isaiah 58, though originally written to the wayward family of Israel, can still speak into our lives today. The nation of Israel was going through the motions of their faith, meanwhile their hearts were not devoted to God. The following seven verses speak to the worship that God is calling us to. He doesn’t want showmanship with hearts that are far from Him. And He isn’t interested in followers who speak of their faith, but have no action to back it up. He wants hearts that are devoted to Him, hearts that break for the things that break His.

 

6 Is not this the fast that I choose:

  to loose the bonds of wickedness,

  to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

  and to break every yoke?

 

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

  and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

  and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

 

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

  and your healing shall spring up speedily;

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.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

  the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

 

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

  and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

  and your gloom be as the noonday.

 

11 And the Lord will guide you continually

  and satisfy your desire in scorched places

  and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

  like a spring of water,

  whose waters do not fail.

 

12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

  you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

  the restorer of streets to dwell in.

 

I encourage you to read over those seven verses, look up commentary online about them, ask God to move your heart in the direction of where you can be His hands and feet. He doesn’t expect us to move mountains, that’s His job. But He does ask us to be faithful and willing. We aren’t the supreme justice, but we can love mercy, walk humbly and seek it out. Where can you intentionally be His hands and feet this week?