"Wash yourselves,
make yourselves clean.
Put away the evil of your
doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow."
Isaiah 1:16,17
Here is a God who is Holy and Righteous, a God who is good and Just, who cares for the weak and the suffering, the creatures He has made. Here is a God who "cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting" (v 13).
O God, how can I wash myself, how can I make myself clean or put away the evil of my doings before Your penetrating eyes? How can I ever cease to do evil, begin to learn to do good, seek justice, and so on, when I am so self-centred and bent towards fulfilling my appetites and lusts?
But You said,
"Come now, and let us reason together,
Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
How, O Lord, how can it be? Who can do this miracle? Who else but You? And how? Only by that amazing stupendous act of grace of life, death and resurrection of the Holy Lamb of God!
"What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
How can I ever thank You enough, O God my Savious? I can lay down my life for You, and say like Isaiah did, "Here I am! Send me."