For God, Not for Show

Scripture:
Isaiah 58: 1–9 — Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. Why have we faster, they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed? Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer, you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.
 
Observation:
We want to live in the light and have God answer our prayers. We want to receive all that he has for us. This blessing isn’t found simply in outward expressions of devotion or in dramatic worship services. It matters how we live each day. It matters how we join ourselves not just in inspiring worship services, but in day to day reflection and practice of what matters to God!
 
Application:
Isaiah returns in this passage to the people’s apparent inability and unwillingness to maintain justice and do what is right. They were going through the motions but not pleasing God. They thought they could manipulate God to get what they wanted. How easy it is for us to be the same way. It’s easy to look past the hurting and to focus on our needs and wants. It then becomes about us. We long for the dramatic. We don’t necessarily subtract God from the equation. We still show up for church and raise our hands and get excited. But we could only be serving a god of our wants and not the God who is! Worship involves gathering to worship and fast. But real worship expresses itself by our desires to do what is right, relieve suffering and care for others.
 
Prayer:
Father, its easy to judge these people. Are we like them? We all want your light and blessing. We want our prayers answered. Here you teach us that real devotion is not for show. It expresses itself in many ways… especially our obedience to get involved with your plan!

— Robert Green, small groups pastor, Reservoir campus