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- Orrington
- ME
- 04474
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DEVOTION:
Isaiah 1:10–18
“Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord.
‘Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.’”
THOUGHTS:
The book of Isaiah opens like the sound of a prophet standing in the city square, calling out to the people of God who have lost their way. They were still going through the motions—still bringing offerings, still saying prayers, still filling the temple—but something was missing. Their worship had become hollow. Their songs were loud, but their hearts were quiet toward justice, mercy, and truth.
God, through Isaiah, wasn’t rejecting their worship—He was reminding them what true worship looks like. It’s not found in the rituals, but in the repentance. It’s not about lifting hands in the sanctuary if those same hands ignore the needs of the hurting.
I love this line where God says, “Come now, let us reason together.” What an incredible invitation from a holy God to a broken people. He doesn’t thunder in condemnation. He reasons. He invites. He offers hope: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
That’s the heartbeat of this passage: grace wrapped in truth. This morning, as we gather in worship, Isaiah’s words invite us to come before God not merely with songs and prayers, but with hearts ready to be changed.
The same God who called Israel to renewal calls us too. Not with anger, but with grace.
Not to shame us, but to cleanse us. And in His mercy, He still says: “Come now, let’s settle this.”
PRAYER:Almighty and Holy God, As we wake and prepare to gather in the warmth of Your house, we hear again Your call to “come now, and let us reason together.” You are not a distant God shouting from the heavens, but a loving Father inviting His children into conversation, correction, and grace. Lord, forgive us when our worship becomes routine, when we sing the hymns but forget the hurting, when we bow our heads yet overlook the burdened hearts beside us. Wash us clean, as You promised through Isaiah, not just in word but in the renewing of our spirit. Make this church family a living reflection of Your mercy, strong in love, steady in service, and humble in heart.
Today, as we serve, sing, and share, let Your Spirit move through every corner of this place. May the weary find rest, the searching find hope, and the joyful find reason to praise. Knit us together, Lord, not by habit or tradition, but by the living power of Christ among us. Lord God, later send us out with clean hands and compassionate hearts, ready to live justice, to defend the vulnerable, to love one another deeply, and to live the kind of faith that shines even beyond our church walls.
My Lord, thank you for the relationships we share at EOCC. We lift each other to You, knowing You understand. Father, restore our souls as we pray this as one body, united by Your grace and called by Your name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
DEVOTION:
Isaiah 1:10–18
“Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord.
‘Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.’”
THOUGHTS:
The book of Isaiah opens like the sound of a prophet standing in the city square, calling out to the people of God who have lost their way. They were still going through the motions—still bringing offerings, still saying prayers, still filling the temple—but something was missing. Their worship had become hollow. Their songs were loud, but their hearts were quiet toward justice, mercy, and truth.
God, through Isaiah, wasn’t rejecting their worship—He was reminding them what true worship looks like. It’s not found in the rituals, but in the repentance. It’s not about lifting hands in the sanctuary if those same hands ignore the needs of the hurting.
I love this line where God says, “Come now, let us reason together.” What an incredible invitation from a holy God to a broken people. He doesn’t thunder in condemnation. He reasons. He invites. He offers hope: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
That’s the heartbeat of this passage: grace wrapped in truth. This morning, as we gather in worship, Isaiah’s words invite us to come before God not merely with songs and prayers, but with hearts ready to be changed.
The same God who called Israel to renewal calls us too. Not with anger, but with grace.
Not to shame us, but to cleanse us. And in His mercy, He still says: “Come now, let’s settle this.”
Almighty and Holy God, As we wake and prepare to gather in the warmth of Your house, we hear again Your call to “come now, and let us reason together.” You are not a distant God shouting from the heavens, but a loving Father inviting His children into conversation, correction, and grace. Lord, forgive us when our worship becomes routine, when we sing the hymns but forget the hurting, when we bow our heads yet overlook the burdened hearts beside us. Wash us clean, as You promised through Isaiah, not just in word but in the renewing of our spirit. Make this church family a living reflection of Your mercy, strong in love, steady in service, and humble in heart.
Today, as we serve, sing, and share, let Your Spirit move through every corner of this place. May the weary find rest, the searching find hope, and the joyful find reason to praise. Knit us together, Lord, not by habit or tradition, but by the living power of Christ among us. Lord God, later send us out with clean hands and compassionate hearts, ready to live justice, to defend the vulnerable, to love one another deeply, and to live the kind of faith that shines even beyond our church walls.
My Lord, thank you for the relationships we share at EOCC. We lift each other to You, knowing You understand. Father, restore our souls as we pray this as one body, united by Your grace and called by Your name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.