Come now, let us reason together

READ: Isaiah 1,2; Psalms 63; 1 Corinthians 8

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 1: 18 “Come now, let us reason together,” 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.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land

OBSERVATION:  When a case is registered in court, both the complainant and respondent will present their arguments through an advocate. Then, based on the evidence presented before him, the judge will pronounce his verdict. We all know this procedure. In Isaiah 1, the Lord, the judge of all the earth, invites his people to reason together. Lord condemns the Israelites for their disobedience and calls them to clean themselves from sins. As part of his call to repentance and obedience to God, now he invites them to reason with him and resolve their matter. A course correction opportunity is given to God’s people to purify themselves from sins. Sin separates humanity from God and ruins the loving relationship between God and man. But the God of love offers his forgiveness and grace to the fallen man to reconcile and restore the relationship with God.

God’s people should consider the blessedness of living under God’s protection and desolateness of living without God. We can reason with God and make decisions based on sound reasoning. God does not call us to blind faith. Instead, he calls us to the reasoned or rational faith that prompts us to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Though our sins are “like scarlet” and “red as crimson,” God can wash away the stains of our sins and make us holy to the Lord. God’s love for us is unconditional. However, his offer for forgiveness is conditional. We need to confess and repent from our sins and obey the Lord (v.19). There is no sin that God cannot forgive. God has compassion for us as a father has compassion for his children (Ps.103:13). “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 Jn.1:8,9).

APPLICATION:  I should never forget that I am a sinner saved by God’s grace. I cannot please God by a multitude of sacrifices and offerings. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Ps.51:17). As I confess my sins and allow God to purify my heart, I should learn what God expects from me (Is.1:17) and obey him. I do not need a mediator to reason with God. Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, is my advocate with God the Father. I can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb.4:16)

PRAYER: Gracious and compassionate God, thank you for your love that accepts me and purifies me from all sins. Jesus, help me be obedient to the word of God and live accordingly. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
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Day - 245