Daily Worship

red

Fiona Campbell February 02, 2016 0 0

Isaiah 1:2-4

Isaiah 1 : 2 – 4 and 18

Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!
   This is what the Lord says:
“The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me.   Even an ox knows its owner,
and a donkey recognizes its master’s care - but Israel doesn’t know its master.
    My people don’t recognize my care for them.   Oh, what a sinful nation they are loaded down with a burden of guilt.

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
  says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
   I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.

adjective
a colour at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies.

Red for a sign 

It’s the colour of the rose we give to the one we love, but also the colour of danger-signs, and street lights giving us a warning.   It’s a deep intense colour with so many shades – crimson, scarlet, vermilion.  The colour of blood is a complicated colour.

Prayer

Lord, the red lifeblood is within us all, keeping us warm, alert and healthy.
You have made us well in all our complexity; thank you for the gift of life, each day with its choices and decisions.
Sometimes they go well, Lord, and sometimes I make mistakes, but thank you for the help you offer me each day – I’ll try to listen for your voice and look out for any red warning signs !
Thank you too for the promises set out in the Bible and for that vivid picture in Isaiah – deep red against pure white – there couldn’t be a bigger contrast.
I guess that’s what you were saying through Isaiah, Lord, that no matter how badly I get things wrong, you can help me turn them right around.   Like taking out a stain – the red mark completely gone.
Thank you Lord, that Jesus was willing to “settle this” once and for all.   His red blood shed at Calvary, the way for me to have a pure life, a fresh start when I’m sorry I got things wrong.
May red always remind me of the love and grace and generosity of the God I seek to know.

Amen.