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. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Isaiah 1:15-20

Dear God, one thing the Bible in a Year podcast has done for me is open up the prophets. When I saw the verse of the day was Isaiah 1:18 on Bible Gateway this morning, my first instinct was to look for another one, but then I thought, No, take what you’ve learned about the context and apply it.

In this case, it’s interesting that the sin Isaiah calls out specifically isn’t debauchery or hedonism, even though he calls them “Sodom” and “Gomorrah” earlier in verse 10. Instead, he says this: “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.” That’s not to say that avoiding debauchery isn’t important, but apparently this is important too.

Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, whisper in my ear all day long. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see. I want to be in this world exactly what you need me to be. Don’t let me miss a thing.

I pray this through Jesus,

Amen