Tag: orphan
“Rejoice and be glad!”
Scripture reading for June 16th: Psalms 66-69
Key Scriptures: Psalm 68:3-6 “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds–His name is the Lord–and rejoice before Him. A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
God’s tender care for the weak, powerless, orphans, widows, prisoners and lonely brings a command to His people to rejoice and be glad. What an amazing Lord we have! Worship is the only fitting response.
Rejoicing in God’s heart in us: “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did to the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:37-40)
A true fast!
Scripture reading for September 29th: Zechariah 7-8
“Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'” Zechariah 7:4-6
Many times the Lord’s children go through the motions of worship or serving the Lord. We do what is expected or required, but don’t really put our hearts into it. I have done that before with fasting. As soon as I seek to fast, my flesh acts up and distractions come faster than ever before! I have a hard time focusing for prayer and thoughts of food or irritations come to distract me. My heart isn’t in it.
God used Zechariah to preach to His people on this subject as they returned to work on the temple. You see, God did not want them just to not have food, He wanted them to administer justice and show mercy to one another. He wanted them to care for the needy and poor and help the widow and orphan. He wanted their hearts to truly love each other instead of thinking evil. (Zechariah 7:8-10) It would produce positive results and progress in godliness.
But God’s people just went through the motions. He became angry with them, and scattered them among the nations. This is why the land became desolate and rested for the seventy years. Hard hearts and disobedience had brought inevitable consequences.
But now, God was again jealous for Jerusalem! He would now show good and blessing to this city. God would gather His people again back to the land and many peoples and nations would also come and join themselves to the Jew! (Zechariah 8:15-23) Fasting has always been a way for God’s people to draw closer to Him and find their true appetites satisfied. A true fast brings cleansing to body and soul. The body cleanses itself from toxins and waste as we quit eating and drink lots of water. The soul quits focusing on bodily appetites and focuses on the Lord and His will. Toxins of the soul include bitterness, depression, apathy, unforgiveness, and injustice.Take time soon for a true fast! It will work wonders for body and soul!