Day 15—Friday, March 21, 2025

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

The Bible passage from Isaiah above calls for justice and ethical conscience and responsibility within our communities. It demands that those in positions of authority and power correct injustice and protect the vulnerable. How relevant is this topic today?

What should this look like in today’s world? Should it be doing what is right not only for ourselves but for all those we meet each day? We are responsible for assisting however and wherever we can, be it by physical means, monetary contributions, or with spoken and written words.

Advocating actively for social justice in whatever way we can is so needed now. Isaiah’s message says we need to learn to do good. If we call ourselves Christian, should we not be learning to do good for the community and growing in our knowledge of good all the time?

In Isaiah’s time, his words were a call to the Kings and leaders of the people. Today, I see this as a call for each one of us to respond to, in the ways we can. Our response to correct injustice and protect those who are vulnerable can come in many creative forms as we collaborate with others working to achieve a climate of ethical social justice within our communities.

Supporting those who work for these solutions can take different forms, such as monetary help, lending our presence and ear to listen, or being willing to speak up when we observe unfairness in any format. We can also advocate for social justice, equity, and inclusion by committing to the education of what social justice, equity, and inclusion “for all” means. Learning about the barriers that many still must surmount can open eyes and hearts to what surrounds us. Take to heart what is said in the Bible verse about learning to do “Good!” Educating ourselves is a way of doing this.

Isaiah 1:17 spoke to me because of the chaos currently reigning in this country. Efforts to eliminate the progress that has been made in ensuring rights for all regardless of gender and race; rights for workers, violation of privacy protections and the careless disregard for the vulnerable among us.

Standing up for what is morally correct, fighting injustice, and assisting where we can to the least of these has never been more important than today.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in this time of increasing chaos, be a shining light to guide us through. Show us the path to take that will aid us in showing compassion, spreading ethical justice, and dismantling the walls of oppression in our society for all.

-Carole Banks