Isaiah 1:18 “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.”

This verse is rightly very dearly loved, set to music and sung, but the question is how well we really understand it. The first thing is that we have to come to God. So many people in the world simply ignore Him, not understanding at all that their very existence is completely dependent on Him. The second thing is the matter of “reason together.” This completely eliminates the idea of one-way prayer. If we talk to God, we had better be listening for the answer! Also, He initiates the conversation often enough, if we have ears to hear. The idea of conversing with God seems totally “out there” to perhaps most people, but the Bible is filled with God’s desire to communicate with His children. That is often quite literally the case, with God using the words of Scripture to speak to us very individually and personally, so we should approach the Bible with that in mind. The next point is acknowledging our sins. We have a tendency either to fail to recognize sins for what they are, or think they are somehow too terrible for God to forgive. Either of those attitudes is a terrible mistake, and is greatly encouraged by the devil. When we come to God it should be in complete humility, allowing the Holy Spirit to point out things of which we need to repent, knowing that there is nothing that cannot be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is nothing to compare with the joy and release of knowing your sins are atoned for, they are forgiven!

I have certainly experienced this, and I deeply desire that as many as possible experience it with me. I have also discovered that understanding that I am forgiven is a powerful protection against yielding to the same temptation again. That’s what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 1:9 “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” Knowing we are forgiven frees us to move past whatever it was that needed forgiveness, to grow to the full stature of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 4:13, 15) As a pastor, I am charged with helping those in this flock to keep growing, so helping them understand forgiveness is essential.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know the struggles I have had with trying to get people to understand forgiveness, because of all the cultural and linguistic barriers. Help me never give up, but rather model and proclaim Your forgiveness at all times in all situations, so that I may be useful to Your Spirit in opening the eyes of as many as possible, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!