Many people make religion out...
Illustration
Many people make religion out to be a hard thing, its principles hard to understand, the motivation to try to fulfill those principles hard to find. Yet, within this first chapter of the first major prophet comes a key word, a focal idea that puts what God wants of us in clear perspective. That word is "reason." All God asks is that we be reasonable. That should be easy.
It is reasonable that we cannot coerce God with ostentatious offerings or fancy ceremonies. If we could, we would be controlling God, and that is not reasonable. It is reasonable that God should want us to do good toward others, especially the weak and disadvantaged. It is reasonable to expect forgiveness and cleansing from a God who loves us as his children. It is reasonable to be obedient to the God who is the Source of all good things.
It is also reasonable to presume that if we go counter to reason into disobedience and rebellion, we will have to bear the consequences of such acts. The only reasonable explanation for such behavior would be that someone else was trying to be God and that would be the very antithesis of reason.
It is reasonable that we cannot coerce God with ostentatious offerings or fancy ceremonies. If we could, we would be controlling God, and that is not reasonable. It is reasonable that God should want us to do good toward others, especially the weak and disadvantaged. It is reasonable to expect forgiveness and cleansing from a God who loves us as his children. It is reasonable to be obedient to the God who is the Source of all good things.
It is also reasonable to presume that if we go counter to reason into disobedience and rebellion, we will have to bear the consequences of such acts. The only reasonable explanation for such behavior would be that someone else was trying to be God and that would be the very antithesis of reason.
