There is much to note in the first chapters of the book of Isaiah, the prophet.  I reflect on the following from the English Standard Version:

• Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause (1:16-17).

• He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (2:4).

Notice the phrases: learn to do good. . . neither shall they learn war anymore.

The old spiritual says, “Ain’t going to study war no more.”  What would  life be like if we stopped studying war between nations, between tribes, between families, between individuals, within families, within marriages, within organizations?

What if we gave our energies instead to learning what is good?  As our pastor said last night, what if I gave my energies to doing what is good for you and what if you gave your energies to doing what is good for me?

A number of years ago, when we were going through a challenging time, a couple of friends showed up at our door with the movie, The Gods Must be Crazy.  We had a wonderful time, laughing together.  From this act of goodness expressed to us in the midst of their busy lives, we received great encouragement which we still remember and, in a sense, still experience today.

The Apostle Paul says this another way:

• Whatever is true,
• whatever is honorable,
• whatever is just,
• whatever is pure,
• whatever is lovely,
• whatever is commendable,
• if there is any excellence,
• if there is anything worthy of praise,
• think about these things.
• What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8 ESV).

 . . . . TLT