Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. — Isaiah 1:16-17 KJV
Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. — Isaiah 1:16-17 NIV
Reflection
Do you find it simple to substitute participation in religious rites for helping those who are in need? I know I do! However, God does not want us to get so preoccupied with praising him and recounting his exploits that we lose sight of the fact that we are to show concern for one another just as he does. Whether it is Jesus outlining his ministry in Luke 4:18-19 or James talking about the kind of piety that pleases God, we must come to the realization that true faith involves treating others in the same manner that God would treat them. This verse both explains what God does and advises us to imitate his behavior in our own lives.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, source of all consolation, if I am to find people who are in need of your love today, please open my eyes and give me the attention, time, and compassion I need to serve them. I pray that the work that Jesus did will be evident in my life today. Amen.