Learn to do good!

"Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds; cease doing evil; learn to do good."

Isaiah 1:16-17
 

Interestingly, as I reading the verses before this particular one today, the Lord was telling Isaiah to tell the people to quit with the sacrifices and "worthless" offerings.  The "washing" referred to here, is the washing the hands of the blood of the sacrifices; the rams, goats, and so forth.  God was saying he is tired of the incense and assemblies.  But wasn't it God, in the first place, to told the Israelites to perform these sacrifices?  Indeed.  But the problem was the people became all about doing the sacrifices and losing the spirit of the sacrifices.  The people were going through the motions and there was no love or praise there anymore.  It was just kill the calf, burn the incense, yada, yada, yada.  Meanwhile, there were orphans starving, widows suffering and the people were too busy "praying" to help them.  Yikes, Friends!  This message is for us, today, here in 2014!  People are suffering.  Let's not be too busy with our Lenten works to help them!  If my Lenten sacrifice doesn't show up in the belly or purse of someone else, what good is it? Our Lenten works must be about helping others or our God will say to us, "When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen." (v. 15) Don't let this happen to us!  Love, heidi