Seek Justice

 Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3 

“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen…Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

Isaiah 1:15-17

Prayer as a ritual, disconnected from a relationship of discipleship to God and his ways, is an empty practice. God’s eyes are on how we live our lives, not on how we dress for church. The call to stop doing wrong by ignoring the plight of the oppressed, the fatherless, and the widow is impossible to ignore if we value the actual presence of God in our lives and in our corporate expressions of church. This holistic understanding of discipleship was at the heart of Jesus ministry and teachings about the kingdom of God. There is no “pass” for historic covenant people like Jews and Christians. We are all called to live with and for justice for the most vulnerable in our community – even while we invest in worship, prayer, and vocal witness. This is living with Jesus on mission.

“Lord Jesus, I choose to join you in responding to those in need, for your glory.”