Obedience Over Sacrifice
15 When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:15-20)
The message God gave to Isaiah is still appropriate for us today. The people to whom God was speaking through Isaiah were doing the rituals of faith - performing sacrifices, giving their offerings - but they were also abusing one another and forgetting, or ignoring, the heart of their faith. It's easy to get into a faith routine. Personally, we may read a daily meditation, have regular prayer time, and attend worship. And our worship experiences can even become routine: Call to Worship, Opening Selection, Prayer, etc. These habits and routines have the potential to draw us and keep us close to God, but often they wind up becoming a thoughtless checklist. But God has always desired a substantive, transformative relationship with God's people.
Jesus' warning to the disciples can be read as apocalyptic - being prepared for Christ's return - but if we understand God to be present with us always, these words are a reminder that God always has a front row seat to our
whole selves.
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. (Luke 12:35-36)
We should not feel that we have to clean up before we let God in. God is not deterred by our doubts or failures, but God is offended by hypocrisy. Our inner lives will be reflective of the outer habits we practice if we do so with intention. We can check in with ourselves to see if we're becoming more patient, less anxious, more compassionate, less easily angered. And if we're really brave, we can ask God to show us those areas where we need growth, and give God permission to mold us daily into the people, and communities of faith, we were created to be - a reflection of God's love, grace, and justice. With God's help, may we let go of the appearance of piety and choose the grace-filled work of transformation.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah 7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 22 "Mark this, then, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver. 23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:4-8,22-23)
