January 10: REFORMATION AND RELEASE

“Is this not the fast I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6

Wickedness can enter upon the scene subtly, under the guise of neutrality or even innocence. But no sooner is it received than it begins its work of conditioning the mind against truth and reality. Its bonds lead to actions and thoughts intended (by the author of wickedness) to prevent future positive growth of the individual, and to spread the negative influence of that person to others. Those in leadership positions are special targets of the enemy.

Satan has worked to make the righteous requirements of the Lord appear arbitrary and unattainable. The very fact of his influence causes the simplicity of God’s moral law to appear complicated and unreasonable, his goal being to cause a person to reject God and His law.

Whenever the believer ventures out into the life of faith, circumstances will arise that, from the standpoint of common sense, boldly contradict that faith. But common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense.* The Bible nowhere teaches that they are the same. We are instead shown that every true teaching of the Lord that we come to adopt into our own thinking will be challenged and/or mocked by the world. Such testing is allowed by the One whose vital interest is in our sanctification. To come through these tests on the side of righteousness increases intimacy with the Lord and decreases reliance upon common sense.

The Jews’ fake humility and fasting were not appointed by God, nor were they acceptable to Him. They thought to gain His approval through abstaining from food, even as they chose not to abstain from iniquity. A true fast was divinely designed to purify the motives and have a reforming effect upon character, while bringing a release from the heavy burdens of sin. Such a change would eliminate intolerance and oppression while promoting justice, liberty, and peace. But their religious practices had become an empty ritual and a cloak for oppression of the poor and weak, of widows and orphans; a cover for bribery, deception, and injustice.** The Hebrew translated heavy burdens literally means the bonds of the yoke.

God’s truth can stand through any testing that comes our way, as long as we are walking in the Spirit. Hear and receive the tender invitation:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (see also John 6:37; Philippians 2:5; 1 John 5:3)

*Oswald Chambers

**See Isaiah 1:17,23; Hosea 4:2; Amos 2:6; 3:10; 4:1; 5:11; 8:4-6; Micah 6:11,12