Prayer: Father, You provide so many warnings and ways to repent and change our ways. Help me to shorten the time apart and seek always to be restored to Your way. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 7 key: vs. 5-7 “Do not trust in deceptive words and say ‘The Temple of Adonai, the Temple of Adonai, the Temple of Adonai!’ “No, if you truly mend your ways and your deeds—if you are doing justice between a man and his neighbor, not oppressing the sojourner, orphan and widow nor shedding innocent blood in this place, nor going after other gods to your own ruin— then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” TLV
Attention: We get so steeped in religious ritual, that we become negligent to the things which God (Adonai) wants us to care for. Notice that the people cried back to Adonai, “The Temple of Adonai!” as their justification for not doing what they knew Adonai cared for, justice (not social justice, but all justice), not being an oppressor of the “foreigner, orphan, and widow,” nor shedding “innocent blood”, nor “going after” other gods.” This is what God declares as responsibilities of His followers.
We just finished the study of Isaiah 58 where Isaiah records the word of Adonai regarding the type of fast which He desires; “To release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood (vs. 6-7)?” Do you hear any repetition in Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s message?
Matthew records the similar words from Yeshua, ““Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in? Or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me (25:37-40).”
When we meet the needs of the displaced, the marginalized, the fatherless and motherless, and the husbandless, we are ministering directly to God.
Action: I choose to do for those who cannot and do not have the means as I am loving God in the process of loving them.
Yield: I choose to yield to the word of God and the mandate for my existence.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in helping those who cannot help themselves.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, holy relationship with God.
Prayer: Father, You have a very consistent theme throughout Your word, give to us through Your prophets and High Priest, about caring for the disenfranchised. Help us to be about the Father’s business. Amen.
Memory Verse: Matthew 25:40 ““And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ TLV
Music Video: Cory Asbury—The Father’s House https://youtu.be/MjVi0CDicEQ?si=jXwYyEAhUhwsxLIj
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”