Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land…” Isaiah 1:17 – 19

The Prophet raises high, very high, the standard of behavior for all who love God. Here are staccato commands that we and Israel should obey – Do good.  Seek justice. Reprove the ruthless. Defend the orphan.  Plead for the widow. It is a high, demanding standard because it insists that we have compassion on those who are hurting in our society. It is hard to sustain a heart of compassion when the demands are so great, not just to help others but to give of our time and treasure to these commands.

We all admit, they are good commands, not a word is wrong.  The problem is, we will never do enough to please God in these matters, no matter how much we do.  Our strongest efforts are desperately weak.

But that is not the end of the story. I hear God saying, loud and clear, that we can not really fulfill our task. Then what?  We stand condemned. Shall we stop trying?

The Word of God speaks of what we need – forgiveness!  When we consider the holiness and compassion and wisdom of God, our feeble efforts to be God-like seem so small and insignificant.

Why should this perplex us so?  The Word from the Lord says, “Let us reason together. Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow.” At fisrt glance this seems to be the opposite of reasonable. We should be held accountable!  Indeed we are.  But the mercy of God takes over in love and compassion. He forgives us so that we can do what he wants us to do even better. This is the mystery of God’s astounding grace.

Is it not true that an unforgiving God would destroy us all because who can meet his standard? Certainly not I and probably not you. So what is the Good News? It is simple as it is marvelous, the Blood of Christ cleanses us. That does not mean that we cease to do the will of God, it means we obey his commands as a partner with him and not his adversary. We are forgiven as we obey – at all times.  That is the “reasonable” way to walk with our God.