He is generous. He gives us life. He welcomes all. He is God. Take refuge in Him. He heals and restores. All.
He wants us to have a pure heart. He saves. He answers. He will always lead. He freshens and satisfies. He has shown His glory. He is God.
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. – Isaiah 58:10-11
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 14 And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” – Romans 1:8,14
20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Today’s verses talked a lot about rest and preserving the sabbath. Something we as a culture, and I personally, are terrible at. It’s comforting to be reminded that resting in what he has already done is vital to our relationship with God, and he will make sure we are taken care of and everything that needs to get done gets done even if we take one day off to rest a week
15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Paul you are speaking truth in Romans tonight! I think we focus so much on sexual sins that we forget the numerous sins that prevent us from eternal life. So much if what Paul pints out is a highlighter for sins I need to confess and work on eliminating from my life. Envy and gossip; boastful (failing to give God all the glory sisters); unmerciful are just a few that are separating me from the life with Christ. Lord be merciful on m a sinner.
These 2 readings are so powerful independently- but put together- explosive!! Wow!! God is after our hearts!! No lip service “devotion”. He wants our attention, obedience, service, sacrifice on his behalf of the lost and hurting. We must actively reflect his character in ministry to others through the week- then quiet ourselves weekly on the Sabbath- in rapt attention to recharge our souls in His Word and presence- and get our instructions for the next week. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Ministry to humans is our calling.
Isaiah was a bit of a wake up regarding Sabbath. Life has felt busy and full all week, every week for a long time and I see why God gives us that time to refocus/rest. Time to get back to it.
Isaiah 58 was a word today! Whew! I love reading it in NIV or something then switching over to MSG. It synthesizes it so well for me. Y’all should try it if you don’t already.
Isaiah 57 talks about lust and Israel offering themselves as prostitutes. I’m humbled to think how often to I seek other gods like pride/ recognition, food, and selfish comforts. God has such a heart for us to seek Him first. And then all these things shall be given unto you. Delight yourselves in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Lord, help me seek You first and may You be my delight! May I honor the Sabbath because it’s Your day and that’s a delight.
Paul lists 21 sins that cut off people from the life of God. Not just sexual immorality, but also unrighteousness, evil, greed, wickedness, envy, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hating God, arrogance, pride, boasting, inventing evil, disobeying parents, lack of discernment, untrustworthiness, unloving, and unmerciful, and sexual immorality.
It’s a little disingenuous to focus on the one sin you find most repugnant when there are plenty of others with the same consequences.
I had the same thought Colleen, particularly with church leaders giving approval to the sexual immorality that the Bible clearly calls out as sin. While I agree with Lauren, that we can’t focus on and condemn others for one thing out of the “list” and must examine our hearts for where we fall short (I am guilty of a few in that list), it is still a correct observation that our culture, along with cultures throughout history, fall short and need God’s grace. For me the question is what I do with that – certainly I shouldn’t condemn, but am I called to pray, to speak up (in love) or to take some other action? May God show each of us when we are stirred by this or any other issue what His reason for stirring us is. I am being convicted as I write this as I am often tempted to put things in the “too hard” basket.
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
This verse gives us a very important piece of God’s heart. The same God who is above everyone and lifted high meets us at our low places! He does not wait for us to meet Him up high where we cannot reach, He joins us! How humble! He loves us so much
Bookmarking Isaiah 58 to study this Sunday regarding the Sabbath. Any disciplines you all carry on the Sabbath you’d like to share? I attempt “screen-free Sunday” but it feels more legalistic than a fast now.
Some kids at my church don’t do homework on Sundays. So they have to be disciplined throughout the week to get it done before Sunday! I try to do that most weeks, but I’m not always consistent
mce, I think that it’s very personal..and things done on the Sabbath should be done to draw us closer to God. If you go screen free (which is a very relaxing thing to do) and it allows you to be more aware of God’s presence and the people around you, then I don’t see that as legalistic. I do think the Holy Spirit prompts us for what we know in our hearts that we need/want to work on to get closer to God. If the screen free thing is pressing on your heart, there is probably a reason that is beyond being legalistic. Just my two cents. :-)
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.
-Such beautiful words for today!
I love that God has always included the foreigners and sojourners who want to follow Him (like Ruth), and that His character is and has always been the same! I love the true fasting of Isaiah 58- the humbling and pouring out of self for the sake of others, especially the oppressed and the underdog. And this not FOR salvation, but BECAUSE of it! God is so good!
He is generous. He gives us life. He welcomes all. He is God. Take refuge in Him. He heals and restores. All.
He wants us to have a pure heart. He saves. He answers. He will always lead. He freshens and satisfies. He has shown His glory. He is God.
❤️
❤️
❤️
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. – Isaiah 58:10-11
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 14 And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” – Romans 1:8,14
✝️
✅
20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Today’s verses talked a lot about rest and preserving the sabbath. Something we as a culture, and I personally, are terrible at. It’s comforting to be reminded that resting in what he has already done is vital to our relationship with God, and he will make sure we are taken care of and everything that needs to get done gets done even if we take one day off to rest a week
15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
19creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
“and I will heal him.
Yes I loved reading this today.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Paul you are speaking truth in Romans tonight! I think we focus so much on sexual sins that we forget the numerous sins that prevent us from eternal life. So much if what Paul pints out is a highlighter for sins I need to confess and work on eliminating from my life. Envy and gossip; boastful (failing to give God all the glory sisters); unmerciful are just a few that are separating me from the life with Christ. Lord be merciful on m a sinner.
These 2 readings are so powerful independently- but put together- explosive!! Wow!! God is after our hearts!! No lip service “devotion”. He wants our attention, obedience, service, sacrifice on his behalf of the lost and hurting. We must actively reflect his character in ministry to others through the week- then quiet ourselves weekly on the Sabbath- in rapt attention to recharge our souls in His Word and presence- and get our instructions for the next week. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Ministry to humans is our calling.
Amen!
Isaiah was a bit of a wake up regarding Sabbath. Life has felt busy and full all week, every week for a long time and I see why God gives us that time to refocus/rest. Time to get back to it.
This spoke to me as well! Thank you for sharing!
Isaiah 58 was a word today! Whew! I love reading it in NIV or something then switching over to MSG. It synthesizes it so well for me. Y’all should try it if you don’t already.
Isaiah 57 talks about lust and Israel offering themselves as prostitutes. I’m humbled to think how often to I seek other gods like pride/ recognition, food, and selfish comforts. God has such a heart for us to seek Him first. And then all these things shall be given unto you. Delight yourselves in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Lord, help me seek You first and may You be my delight! May I honor the Sabbath because it’s Your day and that’s a delight.
romans 1:32 … giving approval to those things God disapproves of. that fits perfectly into our ‘sexed up’ culture right now, doesn’t it?
Paul lists 21 sins that cut off people from the life of God. Not just sexual immorality, but also unrighteousness, evil, greed, wickedness, envy, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hating God, arrogance, pride, boasting, inventing evil, disobeying parents, lack of discernment, untrustworthiness, unloving, and unmerciful, and sexual immorality.
It’s a little disingenuous to focus on the one sin you find most repugnant when there are plenty of others with the same consequences.
Well said Lauren!
I had the same thought Colleen, particularly with church leaders giving approval to the sexual immorality that the Bible clearly calls out as sin. While I agree with Lauren, that we can’t focus on and condemn others for one thing out of the “list” and must examine our hearts for where we fall short (I am guilty of a few in that list), it is still a correct observation that our culture, along with cultures throughout history, fall short and need God’s grace. For me the question is what I do with that – certainly I shouldn’t condemn, but am I called to pray, to speak up (in love) or to take some other action? May God show each of us when we are stirred by this or any other issue what His reason for stirring us is. I am being convicted as I write this as I am often tempted to put things in the “too hard” basket.
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
This verse gives us a very important piece of God’s heart. The same God who is above everyone and lifted high meets us at our low places! He does not wait for us to meet Him up high where we cannot reach, He joins us! How humble! He loves us so much
Bookmarking Isaiah 58 to study this Sunday regarding the Sabbath. Any disciplines you all carry on the Sabbath you’d like to share? I attempt “screen-free Sunday” but it feels more legalistic than a fast now.
Some kids at my church don’t do homework on Sundays. So they have to be disciplined throughout the week to get it done before Sunday! I try to do that most weeks, but I’m not always consistent
mce, I think that it’s very personal..and things done on the Sabbath should be done to draw us closer to God. If you go screen free (which is a very relaxing thing to do) and it allows you to be more aware of God’s presence and the people around you, then I don’t see that as legalistic. I do think the Holy Spirit prompts us for what we know in our hearts that we need/want to work on to get closer to God. If the screen free thing is pressing on your heart, there is probably a reason that is beyond being legalistic. Just my two cents. :-)
Well said Leah – I like that perspective.
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.
-Such beautiful words for today!
I love that God has always included the foreigners and sojourners who want to follow Him (like Ruth), and that His character is and has always been the same! I love the true fasting of Isaiah 58- the humbling and pouring out of self for the sake of others, especially the oppressed and the underdog. And this not FOR salvation, but BECAUSE of it! God is so good!
Amen!