Text: Isaiah 58:3 NKJV
Further Reading: Isaiah 58:1-14
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.
Joel 2:12 NKJV
MESSAGE
Yesterday we started by writing some of the myths about fasting. Today we will be looking at what God expects in the place of fasting. Why should you fast and God accept you if you continue to oppress the poor and cheat the innocent?
Our text and reading the day gave us the things that we must do to have acceptable fast. In Isaiah 58:6, the Bible said,
“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?
Isaiah 58:6 NKJV
God delights in the freedom of the oppressed that your fasting. If there is someone locked up in the prison of your heart, you must forgive such a fellow. Your fasting will only be acceptable if you have forgiven that person from your heart.
Jesus said,
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:15 NKJV
Another thing you must do is to feed the hungry and cover the naked. You cannot allow those who are less privileged to suffer when you can help them. It is more acceptable to help them than to live a life of fasting.
Fasting cannot take the place of your responsibility. Therefore you must be responsible by doing what God wants you to do per time. Your life must be well entrenched in God’s will at all times. You can not use your fasting to bribe God when you are not walking in His ways.
Anyone who will fast and it will be acceptable before God must do it with a pure and sincere heart. Psalms 24:2-3 says that only those with pure heart and clean hands will be able to abide in God’s tabernacle and holy hills.
Check your life and see if you are dealing well with the weak and not oppressing them. Check also if you are living according to God’s will, if not you are only wasting your time fasting. God wants you to change your ways first.
REFLECTION
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.
Isaiah 58:10 NKJV
Instead of afflicting your soul by fasting, you can deliver those who are afflicted and meet the need of the hungry and then God’s blessing will follow.
PRAYER
Father, please give me the power to help the poor and deliver the oppressed from their oppressors. Help me also to fast according to your will.
