Monday, June 28, 2010

June 28th

Today's reading in the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Isaiah 28, 2 Kings 17:5, 2 Kings 18:9-12, 2 Kings 17:6-41, Isaiah 1:1-20

A couple of verses stood out for me today.

Probably one of the most well-known verses....

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

Scarlett or crimson was the colour of a deep red and permant dye that was almost impossible to remove from clothing. Our sin is just as impossible for us to remove from our hearts. Only God can do so, through our acceptance of the sacrifice of the only perfect man who ever lived - God's son Jesus Christ. He can do the impossible. He can make our scarlet hearts as white as snow, as pure as wool. If we are willing, obedient, confessing our sin and truly repenting of it - He will forgive us completely remove the stains of our hearts.

Another verse that jumped out at me with some very basic and straightforwards commands....

Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

That's some straight shooting right there. No mincing words, no tiptoeing around it, no beating around the bush.

Stop doing wrong. There is no try. Do or do not.

Learn to do right. Read the Bible, study God's instruction manual and put it into practice.

Seek justice (not revenge). Stand up for what's right. Speak up when someone is being wronged. The head-in-sand position does the kingdom of God no favours. Standing idly by and allowing evil to continue unchecked is wrong.

Encourage the oppressed. If it is in your power to do so, help those who need help - financially, practically, materially, prayerfully, emotionally - do something!

Defend the causes of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow. There is an epidemic of fatherless children in our country. There are so many single moms out there doing the best that they can. But children need both a mother and a father figure in their life. This is not a slight against mother's in any way, but a good father figure is so vital for children. This is how their first view of God the father is formed. This is how boys learn to treat women and how to be men. This is how girls learn how men are supposed to be treated. We need to encourage our husbands in their vitally important job as fathers to their own children. And we need to encourage them to step up and be a mentor for children in need. We need to come alongside fatherless children, orphaned children, widows, widowers - anyone in need. Our faith needs to have hands and feet on it, or it's validity is in serious question.

Yes, our own family is our priority. But we cannot use that as an excuse not to help those in need. When we are doing the will of God, He will provide.

Tomorrow's passage: Isaiah 1:21-5:30

1 comment:

tammi said...

You've watched Kung Fu Panda a time or two, I bet! ;)

Very good post, Tammy. It's sometimes so hard to put into practice the things we know we should be. I struggle with knowing how my faith is supposed to look on me, but it really is a matter of doing it or not doing it. "There is no try."