Let Us Reason Together

“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 like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

In the school district I worked in as an administrator in Houston, we had a Social Studies coordinator named Vernon. When we met at the district level, and when we knew the meeting was going to have a reckoning of some kind from the superintendent, I would always look at Vernon and ask, "What would LBJ say?" He'd smile, look at me, and say, "Come, let us reason together."

It turns out that the phrase was a favorite of LBJ's. I'm sure that when he used it, that meant that you were going to be arm-twisted, talked to until you could take no more, and finally relent and "see the light" in the LBJ way.

God is inviting Israel to join him in a meeting at the "court of divine justice" according to the study notes. "Instead of passing sentence, the Judge proposes a full pardon. The question is whether the accused will throw themselves on the mercy of the court."

You know the story. Israel is stiff-necked and doesn't readily acknowledge guilt or even a need for his mercy. God's "reasoning" comes in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ. The "reckoning" is mercy and forgiveness for those who find faith in Christ through the waters of baptism. Like Israel, God reasons and reckons with us. Hopefully, those who hear God's Word and the invite from the Holy Spirit respond to his "reasoning," a full pardon for our sins.

Pray with me: Gracious God, I do not deserve your mercy and forgiveness for the sins I commit. Yet you reasoned with me through the invite from your Spirit to respond to the call from my day of baptism until now. Give me strength through your Spirit to hear this call and respond daily by sharing your Word to those who need your mercy and grace. In Christ's name, Amen.