Day Sixteen

“Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” (Isa. 1:16–17)

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:16–17; Psalm 34:11–17

Far be it from me to divulge which one, but teaching one of my daughters to drive a car was a hair-raising experience. From the first moment she slid behind the wheel, she applied her highly spirited personality to the gas pedal.

Her no-nonsense philosophy at stop signs could only be described as “tap and go”—whether you’re next in line or a Mack truck was coming. Her confusion over turn signals was somewhat disconcerting to fellow drivers. But most notable was the way she took a corner. I do mean she “took” the corner—practically mailbox and all—at full throttle. I’ve never known anyone else talented enough to remain tightly bound to the right-hand lane while taking a sharp corner at thirty miles per hour.

I finally screamed, “Repeat after me: THE BRAKE IS YOUR FRIEND!” Typical of our family brand of humor, we both laughed until our sides were splitting. Then in a serious parent-to-child tone, I warned, “If you don’t learn to use your brakes properly, child, you’re going to get yourself and a few others in a heap of trouble.”

Our text today reflects a strong parent-to-child tone. In the first chapter of Isaiah, God addresses Israel as a child. He lays it on the line in verses 17–18: “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” Sometimes no other words will do. We can attempt to justify our tendencies to commit certain behaviors. We can retrace how we got ourselves in such a mess, but sometimes the Heavenly Father’s simple and stern instruction is the only method that works: “Stop this now!” Then get on track and learn to do right.

One of the wisest and most necessary principles for a student driver in the faith is “Learn to apply the brakes.” In other words, learn when to stop. In the middle of a collision is NOT the best time to learn how to use the brakes. Ideally, applying the brakes before the stop sign is the safest way to drive. When we are headed for trouble, the Holy Spirit will raise caution lights and stop signs. Sometimes He tells us to slow down, and sometimes He tells us to “STOP!” Surely we each remember a time when we wish we had applied the brakes when we first observed the signs. Hopefully, we learned from those painful collisions and now have a much better safety record. If we haven’t had a wreck in awhile, we probably can look back and recall when we finally agreed to “stop doing wrong” and “learn to do right.” Others of us may still be fish-tailing in the middle of a dangerous intersection. God’s Word cries out today: STOP! Put on the brakes before it’s too late.

You may think I’m taking undue “license” with this lesson, but it’s never too late to practice safe driving on life’s rough road. Along the way we’ll meet folks under the influence—the wrong influence. Be prepared. Listen to the Father when He says, “Repeat after me: THE BRAKE IS YOUR FRIEND!”