What gets God upset?

What gets you upset?

You drive an old rust-bucket and your neighbour gets a brand new car every couple of years.

You can't afford all the latest high-tech gadgets

You have to wait two months to see a doctor.

Your child has a disability and has been “labeled.”

These things probably upset God, but not because we are so hard done by, but because our hearts are not breaking for what breaks His.

I have been spending a lot of time with my grandmother lately, and she frequently listens to a radio program that has news news stories and interviews. I have heard a lot of things that I know breaks God's heart.

In many places in Africa there is a belief that if you have sex with a young girl you will be cured of AIDS – the younger the girl, the stronger the cure. The consequence of that belief is obvious and heart- wrenching. You may be upset that your little girl came home from school where someone called her a mean name. How would you feel if she came home and told you she had been raped on the way home from school because some man who had AIDS thought it would cure him?

I heard an interview from a young man who was born in a North Korean prison camp and manged to escape. 200,000 people still live in that one camp. The prisoners were considered to be not-human, and were treated as such. They were fed food not suitable for human consumption, and not enough. They would eat mice or insects or anything else that they could scavenge because they were always hungry. The interviewer recalled hearing a conversation between this young man and another person about women. His response really bothered me. He said he sees all the tampons in the stores and he wishes he could buy them and send them to the women in the camp. They have nothing and the blood would just be soaked up by their clothing. I have always hated the smell and mess of menstruation. I can not imagine having no way to get rid of the mess. The condition of these prisoners breaks God's heart!

There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in history. Most of those slaves are in the sex trade. The internet and the proliferation of pornography feeds the lust that provides clients for these women, young girls, and boys. These people have absolutely no hope. These children had dreams for what they would do or be when they grew up. I am certain that they never dreamed of being prostitutes! God hates prostitution, He does not hate the prostitutes.

Many of us may be familiar with the encouraging words of Isaiah 1:18.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

Let us read it in context. God considers our religious activities meaningless – He even hates them –
when our lives are full of sin and lack of compassion.

Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?

Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.

(Isaiah 1:10-18 NLT)

Many people are currently fasting for Lent, as we approach the celebration of Easter. Is the fast just a religious observance because that is what you are supposed to do? If so, Isaiah, speaking the words of God Almighty, says the days of fasting are sinful and false. God will not listen to our prayers if our lives are full of sin and self. It is also not enough to get rid of sin, but we must replace the sin with doing good. God's beautiful promise to cleanse us from our sins must be taken in context. We must first give up our evil ways AND replace the evil with DOING GOOD.

Oh Lord Almighty, It is so easy to become religious! Please help me and those who read this blog to have eyes to see the plank of sin in our own lives! You hate religious self-righteousness more than the sins we love to condemn. You hate it when my eyes are focused on myself and not on the needs of others. Father, please fill my heart with compassion. I know there is a song that has the words “break my heart for what breaks yours.” That is my prayer today for myself and for those reading this blog. I have problems and pains in my life, but they are nothing compared to what the oppressed of this world face. Most of these oppressed peoples do not know you. Many of them have no hope of ever knowing you without a miracle. I have Your love and guidance to help me through hard times. These people have no one. Father, show us how to pray and what to DO for these lost and hurting souls. May our religion be true and pleasing to you. In the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen