The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Fasting and the Heart of God.

“…take away the yoke… the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness…” (Isaiah 58:9)

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Some of us who have spent our whole lives in church have gotten used to the “sanctified life.”  We pray, go to church, worship, and read our Bibles. We may have gotten so used to living our lives with Jesus that we’ve forgotten what it must be like to live without Him. Worse, because we forget, we often become ungrateful for all God has done for us. We don’t remember that we were once far away from God, hopeless, and lost. Before Christ saved us from our sinful state, we were on a path to destruction.  It’s ONLY because of His grace we were washed, cleansed, forgiven, and redeemed; not because of our own works, but because Father God is so merciful, with a heart full of grace.

Pray for your fellow intercessor.

Ungratefulness gives birth to a critical spirit. We may build little thrones and towers that give onlookers the impression of an “us versus them” mentality.  We judge the world with disdain and turned-up noses. Those in the “holy huddle” look down on those in the world “below” and criticize harshly. We “point the finger” at their sin, forgetting that lost people cannot be righteousness without Christ. Sadly, a critical attitude inevitably colors our relationships within the “family.” God’s rebuke through Isaiah was that His people were criticizing each other, using harsh language to cut and slander within their own community.

Yes, the Church must discipline its own when public sin produces scandal, but that is done in redemptive love, not with criticism and gossip. We are not told to judge the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).  Why?  Well, the truth is that the world can’t live differently because they live without God’s Spirit and transforming power. Therefore, our response to non-believers’ sin should be to share the truth of the Gospel in love and to show compassion and hope. We can pray the same merciful prayer Jesus prayed hanging from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know not what they do.”  Christ prayed that prayer in mercy and love. We too should seek to treat those who don’t know God with that same mercy, love, and kindness. (By Julie Hamner)

In your time seeking God today:

• Take a few moments to think about where you would be without God’s grace and truth. Let that reality sink in. Then, ask Father to help you to remain humble and grateful for all He has given and done to adopt you into His family.
• Pray that the Lord would reveal black areas in your heart that make you judgmental and critical. Is there an individual or group in particular that you treat harshly or with contempt? A non-believing relative who is making disastrous choices? Liberals? Homosexuals? Muslims? If God brings someone or a people to mind, ask God for the strength to extend the same mercy that was given to you.
• As you go through your day, look for chances to extend compassion instead of judgment to the hopeless and hurting. When appropriate, pray the same loving prayer Jesus prayed, “Forgive them, Father, for they do not know not what they are doing.”

Related Scripture:

Luke 23:34; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Colossians 4:6

Fasting and the Heart of God Full PDF Version 

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