Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Family is a beautiful yet complex gift from God. It is the first place where we learn about love, patience, and forgiveness. But if we’re honest, family can also be a place of conflict. Disagreements arise, tempers flare, and sometimes the people we love the most are the ones who frustrate us the most.
Growing up, my siblings and I fought all the time. It seemed like we couldn’t go a day without arguing over something—who got the last piece of food, who controlled the TV, or who got in trouble for something the other did. The smallest disagreements often turned into major battles. Yet, despite all of our conflicts, there was never a moment when we stopped being family. No matter how much we argued, when it really mattered, we came together.
That’s the beauty of family...
and it’s a reflection of God’s love for us. In Isaiah 1:18, God calls us to come and reason with Him, even when we’ve failed, even when we’ve sinned. He doesn’t cast us aside for our mistakes. Instead, He invites us to dialogue, to reconciliation, and to restoration. If God, in His perfect holiness, is willing to work things out with us, how much more should we be willing to do the same with our family?
Sometimes, pride gets in the way of reconciliation. We want to be right more than we want to be united. But just as God promises to cleanse us and make us whole, we too can find healing in our families when we choose grace over grudges and love over being right.
Perhaps you’re experiencing tension in your family today...
Maybe there’s an unresolved conflict, harsh words spoken, or years of built-up resentment. God’s invitation in Isaiah 1:18 is not just for our relationship with Him—it’s an example for how we should approach one another. Come together. Reason together. Seek understanding. Extend forgiveness. Just as God takes our brokenness and makes it whole, He can do the same for our relationships.
No matter what has happened in the past, no matter how deep the wounds, there is always hope for reconciliation. God has given us the example. It’s up to us to follow it.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your grace and Your willingness to reason with us, even when we’ve strayed. Help me to reflect that same grace in my family. Where there is division, bring unity. Where there is anger, bring peace. Teach me to love and forgive as You do. Amen.