Isaiah 1:1,10-20 and Luke 12:32-40

Isaiah begins with a vision that he saw - not a word he that heard or a thought he that conjured. This vision lies outside of who he is and his comprehension - but it expands who he is and tests his abilities to translate it and transmit it. This vision will speak of the reality of human life for Israel but also the reality the hope of God - a hope which will transform all who accept it. This vision is based on justice - not on religious observance and ritual, which can be used to hide many sins and deeds of iniquity. This vision of true worship and life offering will be reflected again in Is. 58.

Isaiah speaks to a nation not just to individuals - this is a yearning directed towards authorities and powers that be, as well as addressing personal actions. Worship is transformative and that transformation is revealed in the way we live towards the needy and our stance towards justice. In worship our lives are changed and we begin to have our eyes opened to see things anew. Worship is a way God challenges and changes who we are - but so often we are tempted to reduce it to just cementing our own views. We do so at our peril warns Isaiah.

Worship without the cutting edge of justice become a blunt instrument that will only satisfy the needs of those in power. In fact warns Isaiah those who seek power and status but do nothing about justice will be the ones who feel the sword having the last word. For without radical change at the root of who we are and how we run a system of government - the old ways and myths of power will always come back and prosper. They will come back and win. And we will be lesser people for it.

But Isaiah says if we follow the ways of God, ‘hope’ not ‘despair’ will be the last word. A personal and social change of heart is possible. So will Israel choose life or choose death? Will its life reflect its worship or will hypocrisy reign?

Then we see in Luke a challenge to the ‘little flock’ - a challenge to let their lives reflect their words. There is the promise of the kingdom - but it is a promise not a reality - yet. So to make it a reality there will need to be choices. Action. Decisions. The conversation is a continuation from the debate last week about riches and inheritance- we have skipped a few verses about the place of worry over material goods, (mirroring Matthew 6) and now enter practical advice from Jesus in living the kingdom life. Some radical choices are offered. These choices go the heart of who we are in modern society - and the well known idiom is uttered afresh: ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (v.34) Be ready is the warning. Be alert. Make your choices as if it were the last days of your life. Let the kingdom so shape you and change you.