fasting the Lord’s way…

I was talking to a teammate the other
day about a certain speaker who I had heard a few times, that
somewhat prided himself on being “cutting edge,” or going against
the mainstream in his talks. She knew him, and had heard a story
about how at one of his speaking engagements he stood up, read the
“Sermon on the Mount” from Matthew chapter 5, and sat down. There
was a big controversy because he got paid a substantial amount to
speak, and all he did was read a passage of scripture. But then again
how can you really argue that that wasn’t good enough. Would he have
had some words to speak that would be better than what Jesus had to
say? It was an interesting conversation, and it led me to this
present blog where I simply want to share a passage of scripture.
Take it as you will. Go read it in your own Bible. Read around it and
get some context. Hopefully the Lord will use it to speak to you like
it did for me.

 ⁶ “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.
 ⁷ 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.

 ⁹ Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
      ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

   “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
      Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
 ¹⁰ Feed the hungry,