January 4, 2026 Devo

January 4th, 2026

Powerful Words from the Prophets
“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.” – Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
“God Buys Ugly Hearts”

“We buy ugly houses.” Have you ever seen one of those signs? It always makes me laugh when I see it. I envision someone obsessed with ugly homes and wanting to collect them ALL! So, the more hideous the house, the more they are willing to pay. “Look at that dilapidated roof! Look at that ugly avocado green paneling! Look at that ridiculous purple shag carpet! It’s just what I’ve been looking for! I’ll give you a MILLION DOLLARS for it!!”
Of course, that’s not how it works. It’s a company that looks for homes that they buy for very little, fix up a bit, and then sell them for a whole lot more. I guess they feel that if you think your home is ugly, you won’t want much for it. And they’re probably mostly right. But I still like my fantasy of how it should work better!
God doesn’t buy ugly homes, but He does buy ugly hearts. Hearts that have grown cold and uncaring. Hearts that have followed wrong paths and lived horrible lives. Hearts that have thought about no one but themselves for a long, long time. Even hearts that have become evil in the most unimaginable ways. Those kinds of people are people most of us try to avoid as much as we can. But not God. Those are the kind of hearts He’s looking for. And the kind of hearts He sent His One and Only Son to die for.
Take another look at our verse today. “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.” Even though the people had become rebellious, God wanted their hearts anyway. Even though they had chased after other gods, He was ready to forgive them anyway. Even though He had taken them back again and again, He stood ready to take them back anyway, ready to forgive their sins and wash them in His grace and righteousness. Oh yeah, He stands ready to do that for YOU today, too! God still buys ugly hearts. That’s God’s Word for you today.