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Doing for Christ
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acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to
let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to
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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? Then shall
thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring
forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory
of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord
shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take
away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger,
and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee
continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not.”
This is the special work now before us. All our praying and
abstinence from food will avail nothing unless we resolutely lay
hold of this work. Sacred obligations are resting upon us. Our duty
is plainly stated. The Lord has spoken to us by His prophet. The
thoughts of the Lord and His ways are not what blind, selfish mortals
believe they are or wish them to be. The Lord looks on the heart.
If selfishness dwells there, He knows it. We may seek to conceal
our true character from our brethren and sisters, but God knows.
Nothing can be hid from Him.
The fast which God can accept is described. It is to deal thy
bread to the hungry and to bring the poor which are cast out to thy
house. Wait not for them to come to you. The labor rests not on
them to hunt you up and entreat of you a home for themselves. You
are to search for them and bring them to your house. You are to draw
out your soul after them. You are with one hand to reach up and by
faith take hold of the mighty arm which brings salvation, while with
the other hand of love you reach the oppressed and relieve them. It
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is impossible for you to fasten upon the arm of God with one hand
while the other is employed in ministering to your own pleasure.
If you engage in this work of mercy and love, will the work prove
too hard for you? Will you fail and be crushed under the burden, and