Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do what is good.
Seek justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow's cause. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Seek justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow's cause. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
I read the following quote by John Wesley this morning which brought me to today's verse.
" Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
at all the times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can!"
The verse from Isaiah tells us to learn to do good, indicating that it is not something that would come naturally to us. The passage indicates that this doing good is actually part of worship. In a day when "worship" has more to do with music than anything else the passage gets to the heart of what God wants from us in this season or any season in life. He wants our hearts and if He has them, we will stop the "charades" (v.13 The Message), and the good, as described by John Wesley, will then be the outflow, will be our worship.
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
at all the times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can!"
The verse from Isaiah tells us to learn to do good, indicating that it is not something that would come naturally to us. The passage indicates that this doing good is actually part of worship. In a day when "worship" has more to do with music than anything else the passage gets to the heart of what God wants from us in this season or any season in life. He wants our hearts and if He has them, we will stop the "charades" (v.13 The Message), and the good, as described by John Wesley, will then be the outflow, will be our worship.
Read the statement again and make it your aim to do good "in all the ways that you can".
Isaiah 1:16-20
The Message (MSG)
13-17 "Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
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