Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 58-60

Highlight Verses:

““No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the prior verses, Isaiah talks about people fasting to impress people or to appear good. Not very good reasons to fast.

Instead, Isaiah offers a very practical approach to fasting.

In the context of that culture, Isaiah is saying fasting is to be able to share your resources with others.

I know there are other Biblical forms of fasting that Jesus modeled for us, but Isaiah’s type of fasting has piqued my interest.

What would be the effect if everyone took one day a month, fasted, and took the money they would have spent on food and used it to help others?

My best guess is that we would live in a different, better world.

I will admit that we don’t do that, but we do take more than the equivalent of a day’s groceries and support 3 children through Compassion International. If we fasted, maybe we could do more. We’ll have to think about that?

Have you considered supporting needy people either through Compassion or some other ministry?
If you are doing that, how has that affected your life?