Encouragement: Tear away the ropes

Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from Isaiah 58:6-12

No, this is the kind of fast I want.
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke.
I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!
Then your light will shine like the sunrise;
your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply,
‘Here I am.’
You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed.
Then your light will dispel the darkness,
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
The Lord will continually lead you;
he will feed you even in parched regions.
He will give you renewed strength,
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.

Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Is 58:6-11). Biblical Studies Press.

New years has always been a reflective time, where I look in to where I have been and where I am going. I often find it hard to let go of one year and enter into the wonder that the new year may bring.

I struggle because this brings in to my heart such a me focus. In our society today it is so easy to isolate one's self from the world and bring our focus to be totally on ourselves and have the attitude of everyone must look after themselves. This is the message of our me me society.

I really like this text from Isaiah. I have it marked as one of my bible support favorites. Isaiah tells us to set free the oppressed, feed the hungry and provide shelter to the homeless. Look after each other. Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and He will reply, ‘Here I am.’ Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.

The Lord will continually lead you;
He will feed you even in parched regions.
He will give you renewed strength,
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.

What a promise just for looking after each other. What a promise to stop focusing inward but to focus on others as our Lord Jesus Christ would have us do.

Let us look for ways to serve one another. Do not let the world isolate you with it's me me focus. Do not let the world seperate you from the love of God and leave you all alone.

Let us boldy go forth into the new year and search for ways to bring glory to Christ.


Amen

Music Encouragement Jason Upton - Not Alone