Today's Verse: Isaiah 1:16-17

Friday, January 5, 1962

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 1:16-17
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Do you find it easy to replace service to those in need with religious rituals? I know many sure seem to do so. However, God wants us not to get so caught up in talking about him and celebrating his deeds that we forget we're supposed to provide hands-on care for others. God loved us so much that he wasn't content just to send us words in a holy book; he also came to us personally as the Word incarnate in Jesus, Immanuel, God with us (John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 1:23). In Jesus, God cared for people face-to-face with hands-on in love (Mark 1:40-42).
Whether it is Jesus defining his ministry (Luke 4:18-19) or James talking about the kind of piety that pleases God (James 1:26-27), we must realize that true faith always involves treating others as God would treat them (1 John 3:16-18). Today's verse defines what God does and how God feels (Deuteronomy 10:16-18) by instructing us to live as his presence in our world today (John 20:19-22).

My Prayer...

O Great God of all comfort, please open my eyes today to see those who need your love and please give me the heart to do so attentively, investing in them personally and giving my time compassionately to serve them. May Jesus' heart be seen in the work of my hands and bring glory to you, O God. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Isaiah 1:17
Devo: Today's Verse
"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed."
Isaiah 1:17
Devo: Today's Verse
"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."
Do the Right Thing
Illustration of Isaiah 1:17
Inspirational illustration of Isaiah 1:17 -- Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.
The Nones
Article by Rubel Shelly
Are you a none? Rubel Shelly reminds us that the group of those who claim none for religion is growing quickly in the U.S. and that they do so because they are are tired of the hypocrisy.

Illustration

Illustration of Isaiah 1:16-17 — Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, January 5, 1962

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Grace in Godly Influence' (Acts 27:30-32)
"[After fourteen days in the storm, the ship carrying Paul was in peril of breaking up on the rocks of the shoreline.] Then the sailors tried to..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'When Everyone Rejects You' (Mt. 27:41-44)
"The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Joined with Christ' (Co. 2:10-12)
"Dear Father, Thank you, Father, that we have been joined with Christ in his life, death, and resurrection. Make us realize that we put off the body....."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God's Love is Perfected in Us When We Love'
"Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and his...."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse