fix it.fixing it.in the fix.

devo, devo , devo.

the write ups below is my devotion today.
felt like a punching bag yesterday when cornered to an edge of helpless situation..the condition of our nation and individuals.was browsing through meanings, exegesis, text & trying to understand the text for verse 9-12 and here's what we can learn in times of repentance of a nation.

the choice to ignore or making a difference.

Outline for Isaiah58 -66 :Everlasting Deliverance and Everlasting Judgment (chs. 58–66)
- False and True Worship (ch. 58) We were told that about 700 B.C.ago,Israel had fallen away. Despite the many calls issued by prophets sent by God to them to repent and to return to the Lord, the people of the land, for the most part ( just like most of us..) continued to ignore the righteousness and justice of God. Because of this, the nation would suffer great losses at the hands of cruel enemies.

the question is do we have a role to play in a big nation?

we hear many times one vote makes a difference.
one hope .
one decision.
one vision with
one major effect or an outcome for
one nation. Here is a conclusion i have drawn from my devo for verses 9-12

spiritual renewal in God.

coping in a shift far beyond the norm.
we should opt to reflect on our role in times of shifting beyond the norm...which weighs our "spiritual standing"inbeing renewed : passively or actively

True Story
Man A, cannot 'drive' using a normal car ever since his tragic accident and so should he decided to drive on the road one day, he would have to buy a 'special' car built for disabled people. ..the thing is , this guy did not want to purchase a car to cope with his driving desire. he just like the idea that he can still "drive" on the road.
Hes an active member with a passive role.

renewal in God forms 2 routes :
-for active
-for passive

we have been in both routes. for some - -we have become extremely active. for some passive. however the main point for today's devo is not about being active or passive. its about recognizing age old behavioral patterns in our Christian walk or our role in times of shifting beyond the norm.

behaviors pointed in Isaiah about change to take place in our nation, we should begin to contribute in first a personal change and do away with :
1.yoke of oppression (look more into the context here for oppression)
2.pointing finger (blame game)
3.malicious talk (we are far better than them)

the conditional change is as follows :

'If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if
you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then only we see the change as it cont's in verse 10 ..

then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Isaiah 58:9-12 NIV

so qualities for Today's devo in becoming more like Christ are:

(1) repairer of broken walls
(2)restorer of street with dwellings.

are we a generation of 'suckers 'or people living in ignorance during times of repentance?
or are we 'renewed, transformed , participants' making a difference for our generation during times of repentance?