LifeLink Devotions

Monday, November 13, 2023

I’m still sitting at the roadblock. I’m contemplating the connection between me and the people of Israel who were offending God by offering Him insincere worship. I wonder how I do that. Am I really guilty of wearing a mask of love for God on Sunday and then removing it to expose a face of love for self on Monday?

I need to look at the challenges God gave the people of Israel and create a personal check list. After all, that’s how we do it in this day of self-help – we create check lists to validate our growth and accomplishments so we can proclaim worth upon ourselves and move on.

So let’s read Isaiah 58 verses 6,7, and 9, and then make our tongue-in-cheek list.

“…the kind of [worship] I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Stop oppressing the helpless and stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors!”

• “Free those who are wrongly imprisoned.” I’m not a judge or a lawyer, so I can’t do this. CHECK.
• “Stop oppressing those who work for you.” I’m not an employer. CHECK.
• “Share your food with the hungry.” Drove past a guy yesterday who said he was homeless, but I didn’t help him because the police said most of them are scam artists. I actually think I did him a favor by not giving him anything, so he is forced to get to work. If it was a real need, I think I would have helped. In fact, I bought breakfast for a stranger at a restaurant one morning. Never mind the fact that he was fully capable of buying his own, it still helped him, right? CHECK.
• “Welcome poor wanderers into your homes.” Wait a minute; I have a wife to consider. We have hosted people in the past, but we’ve always known them. We have to be careful these days. We even had missionaries stay with us for three months. CHECK.
• “Give clothes to those who need them.” I’m really good here. I take clothes to Goodwill and Hope Gospel Mission all the time. I have even sent clothes internationally for orphans, and helped pay for their shipping. BIG CHECK.
• “Do not hide from relatives who need your help.” Um, this is tough. They just continue to use me and it seems like I am enabling them. They say they will pay it back but never do. The Bible says in Proverbs to not lend money to relatives. I’m choosing to obey that. CHECK.
• “Stop oppressing the helpless.” I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who is helpless, let alone oppress them. CHECK
• “Stop making false accusations and spreading vicious rumors.” I would never! The things I share are prayer requests or personal hurts I need advice on. CHECK.

“There, the checklist is done, and I passed. Now Lord, take down the barricade and let me proceed…Lord? Lord? It’s not moving. I’m not able to proceed. Lord. LORD! I’ve done what you asked. I am a true worshipper, right? Then why isn’t the barrier moving?”

Looks like I’ll be here a little longer. I wonder what I’m supposed to see?

Pastor John