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God Cares More About Relationship Than Religion

“‘Why have we fasted,’ 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 people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in 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 them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” Isaiah 58:3-7, 9-10 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.58.3-10.NIV

 

Seeking God is so much more than Bible reading and prayer. Being spiritual and godly is not as much about knowledge of God as it is about serving God by loving others. It is why He ties the second command to the first command. Certainly, God wants our attention and affection; we are to love Him most and first, but that love for Him is demonstrated to Him not simply by spiritual disciplines but, more importantly, by loving others. God measures our actions toward others as our true actions toward Him. Bible reading and prayer without love and service to neighbor means it is not having its intended effect. Being with God means serving God by loving others into His kingdom for the first time and for all time. God is most pleased when we love people by helping them know Him in truth and walk with Him in greater obedience. When His people encourage and implement God’s ways, He knows we have been listening to His word and answering the prayers we are making of Him. Righteousness and peace in the world are the work of the child of God who understands from the word of God His will, prays for His strength and wisdom to apply it, then implements through good works the application of God’s word by seeing His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God is not mocked. He is not fooled by our religion. God loves us and enjoys our presence but expects us to bring His presence into the world for the betterment of all and the glory of His Name.

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