Recognizing Our Sin

You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But you have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

Isaiah 64:5-9

There are times when we are overwhelmed with the harsh reality of our sin, and we, like Isaiah, must admit, “we are not godly.” In the bright light of God’s purity, all of the Israelites’ “righteous deeds” were no better than filthy rags, and they were like windblown autumn leaves. But the Israelites still refused to call upon God, so the Lord had turned them over to their sins. Yet Isaiah was bold enough to remind God that they were his chosen people. He pleaded with God not to destroy them.

Like Isaiah, we need to realize how thoroughly saturated we are by sin. But lest we start despairing, we need to remind ourselves that God can forgive us and restore us once again.

• Dear Lord, we are not godly, but you are merciful . . .