The Fast that God Requires
It is a temptation common to our sinful nature to view our religion as a transaction: we offer our outward piety, and God owes us His blessing. The Israelites in Isaiah’s day fell into this trap, fasting strictly while neglecting mercy and justice. They wondered why the Lord did not see their sacrifice. Today, the Prophet Isaiah confronts the emptiness of ritual without repentance. He directs us away from a religion of self-made works to the heart of God’s will. What does the Lord actually require? As we gather today, we are invited to look past the external forms of worship to find the fast that God truly desires—one that breaks the yoke of sin and restores the soul.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 58:3-9