December 3, 2012

Isaiah 1:10a, 16-20 (The Message Translation)

"Hear what God says. 

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.

"Come. Sit down. Let's argue this out."
This is God's Message:
"If your sins are blood-red,
they'll be snow-white.
If they're red like crimson,
they'll be like wool.
If you'll willingly obey,
you'll feast like kings."

            One of the necessary rituals of preparing the Lovell homestead for our celebration of Christmas is a fairly detailed cleaning of the house so that we can decorate for the season.  Dusting, cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming, and yes, even washing are all a part of our preparation. According to this passage from the first chapter of Isaiah, similar preparation is encouraged as we journey through these first few days of the Advent season.  Such cleaning, whether it is straightening out our homes or straightening out our lives, is hard work. But, as we know, the results are more than worth the effort.  So, during these early days of Advent, let us take the time to dust off our Bible, spread out our prayer rugs and make ourselves clean that we might experience the love and grace God gives to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

           
 Prayer: Holy God, we come to you dirty and stained by our sin. We praise you, O God, not only for accepting us just as we are, but even more for your cleansing and renewing grace that washes us deep down to our souls.  Amen.