Devotion 11/18, Lord, Change My Heart

‘Come now, let us reason together,’ 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.’
Isaiah 1:18

Israel was very good at “practicing” religion in an outward show. But privately they were living in sinful disobedience to God. This is also addressed by Jesus in Matthew 23.
So to that end God says in our verse today, “let us reason together”, “let us settle this matter of your sins against Me.”

In the two verses prior to this one God tells Israel to wash themselves through repentance and forsaking of evil in their lives. Then to live lives that are righteous and pleasing to God.
The very same is true for us today, we are sinners in need of saving. When we repent of our sins and place our faith in the blood of Christ for forgiveness, we are cleansed and our sins that were red as crimson are whiter than snow! We stand clean before our Holy and righteous God all because of the work that Christ did on the cross for us. His blood was the final sacrifice made for sin, and it is the only thing that God will accept as payment for our sin.
Romans 3:25
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood – to be received by faith.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Nothing stains quite as sin. It not only leaves a stain in our heart but a residue in our minds. But God’s grace is shown in that he doesn’t just forgive our sins, he doesn’t just forget our sins, he banishes them. They are gone. The stain is removed, the guilt is taken away. We are clean by his grace.

Father God, I thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to this wicked world to shed His innocent blood for my sins. I pray that those who have not yet accepted Christ would do so today and know the peace that passes understanding which can only be found in You through Christ Jesus. I ask You to help me to do Your will this day Father, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Lord, I pray my heart be changed each day, that I start the day anew, born again in you. I seek to know you better today than yesterday and live my life following your way better today than yesterday. You are the “only” Way. You are the “only” Truth. I seek you, I seek your Truth and I seek your Way. Mold me to be the best I can be, to sow your seed that your kingdom shall grow for your glory and honor. All this I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.