Learn to do well

Learn to do well

Scripture:- Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:17-19

Observation:- Moving into the 1^st chapter of Isaiah, we see the state of the people of Israel which is desolate, in turmoil, and overthrown by strangers. And the Lord declares through Isaiah that this is because they have become a sinful nation and laden with iniquity, forsaking the Lord and doing evil all the time. In the face of this, the Lord asks His people to repent and instead “learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless and plead for the widow”.

To do well means to do good things that pleases the Lord. It also means having a spirit of excellence to do the best we can in everything good thing we are called to do. To seek judgment is to seek justice and righteousness. The ways of evil exploits others for one’s own benefit. From these verses we see that God’s heart is always concerned about the oppressed, the orphans, the widows, those who have no other recourse of help. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, we see how the Lord was so pleased with His servants who fed and clothed the poor, helped the sick, encouraged those in prison.  Good works are of course by no means the path or way to salvation, yet those of us who are saved are called to good works. If we claim to have fellowship with Jesus, we need to do the things He does and be concerned with the things He is concerned about. The Lord came to set the captives free, to heal the broken hearted. He always had compassion on the outcast, the poor, the sick.

In the next sentence, the Lord speaks of how the sins of Israel, though red as scarlet can be as white as snow. They just needed to be willing and obedient, and they would eat the good of the land, that is, enjoy God’s good blessing.

When God forgives, our past is removed, we are made righteous, as if we had never sinned. All it takes for us is to be willing. That willingness is a very important thing. It is a heart, an attitude that is set on being willing to be obedient and do what God wants. Helping the poor and needy is always in God’s heart. Hence, we too should do the same for we must reflect our Lord and Father.

Application: Seek the Lord, and ask Him how you may become involved in helping those who need help.

Prayer: Lord, give me a willing heart, to see others as you see them, and give me the opportunity and grace to serve you by helping those in need. In Jesus name, Amen.