#WordForTodayDevotional
Monday January 30, 2023
ACCEPTABLE FAST (6): EXTEND MERCY TO YOUR RELATIONS
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?Isaiah 58:7 (KJV)
Fasting exposes one to see the vanity of this world and its possessions. It is easy to drift into a life of selfishness where nobody but you and yourself matters. You find that most times people are good to all but their own relations. They give to outsiders but when they get home, it is a different ball game. No wonder, Elohim is emphasizing that you are not to hide yourself from your own flesh. When you see needs in your family, don’t hide and pretend as though you are not seeing it. I Timothy 5:8 says, ‘But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.’ This is a very serious issue. Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood. Show mercy to your relations and ensure that they are not crying out to God for needs that you can meet. Know that Adonai placed you in their lives for you to be His extension to reaching them. That starts with ensuring that they have heard the gospel enough to make a decision whether to accept or reject the offer of salvation that Yahushua brought. So ensure that their spiritual needs are met. This is your first obligation as a believer. Acts 16:31 (NET) says, ‘They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”’ If you are saved, the next obligation for you is to ensure that your household comes to the saving knowledge of the Lord Yahushua.
