Tuning Our Hearts and Actions to Him!

This morning when I opened my Bible, it opened to one of my favorite passages from the Prophet Isaiah, a section on the type of fasting the Lord desires. I love the If-Then promises of the Lord in this regard.  Here are the verses:

Isaiah 58:5-12 NIV:

[5] "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?
(What the people thought God wanted)

[6] “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?
[7] 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?
(What God actually wants)

[8] Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
[9] Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
(God's response to us, if we tune our hearts and actions to Him) 

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
[10] and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
(God's "If statement")

then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
[11] The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
[12] Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
(God's promise will "Then" come to pass.)

I like to think that verses like these show the heart of God.  He is not after our religious activity, He is after our hearts and our actions, lined up with Him. Once when Jesus was questioned about the greatest commandment, He provided the following response - Matthew 22:37-40 NIV:

[37] "Jesus replied: “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If we love God with our whole self (heart, soul and mind) first, that becomes the basis for our outward actions, for He loves all those around us.  When You love someone completely, you Love what they love, those that are important to them, become important to you.  This is what God is after in His encouragement in these verses.  He doesn't want us focused on some rules, some religious act, He wants us focused on others and acting out of relationship with Him.

God is so good to us that He can't help but respond in kind when we give of ourselves for His sake.  That is really what He is saying here, if we act like Him, then He will bless us, because that is what He IS like.

I was just thinking about an analogy that is timely, as we are just about to start the Olympics.  I used to be a gymnast, and as a gymnast we performed routines that were judged on the several merits, but perfection of activity was what was looked for, perfectly pointed toes, legs held together just right, uniform worm just right, etc.  It seems to me that this is what religious requirements are like - trying to put on the perfect show.

What God is looking for is more like mud-wrestling (in a good way).  He is looking for those that don't mind getting "dirty", and are willing to get in there and embrace their neighbors for His sake, regardless of how "dirty" they are in their sin and desperate need.

Lord, help me to tune my heart and actions to You!  Help me to love others the way You love them!

Amen!