1 APRIL
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Isaiah 1:16
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 15:1-11
Isaiah exhorts the Jews to repentance and shows the true way of it if they wish to have God approve their obedience. We know that nothing can please God unless it proceeds from a pure conscience; for God does not, like men, judge our works according to their outward appearance. Frequently a particular action, though performed by a very wicked man, obtains applause from men; but in the sight of God, who beholds the heart, a depraved conscience pollutes every virtue.
Haggai also teaches this, using an illustration from ancient ceremonies. He says everything that an unclean person touches is polluted, from which he concludes that nothing clean proceeds from the wicked. Isaiah declares that if integrity of heart does not sanctify people's outward worship, in vain do they offer sacrifices to God, in vain do they pray, in vain do they call on God's name. So that the Jews no longer labor to no purpose, Isaiah demands inward cleanness. He begins by saying that they need a comprehensive reformation, lest, after having discharged one part of their duty, they should imagine that this would veil other actions from the eyes of God.
Such is the manner in which we ought to deal with men who are estranged from God. We must not confine our attention to one or a few sores of a diseased body. Rather, because our aim is a true and thorough cure, we must call on them to begin anew. They must thoroughly remove the contagion so that they who were formerly hateful and abominable in the sight of God may begin to please God.
John Calvin
FOR MEDITATION: Have we dealt with the root of our own wickedness? If not, our good deeds will not recommend our polluted heart to God, rather, our polluted heart will taint even our best deeds. Until our hearts are thoroughly washed, we cannot cease to do evil.
365 Days With Calvin
Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke
No comments:
Post a Comment