In this episode of Arise + Abide, Curtis and Sally read Isaiah 1:1–31, a powerful opening message addressed to rebellious Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah's vision confronts a people who continue their religious rituals while failing to recognize the Lord or reflect His heart through justice, obedience, and compassion.

The conversation explores God's sharp indictment of empty worship—sacrifices and prayers offered without repentance or care for the oppressed—and His call to something deeper. Curtis and Sally reflect on Isaiah's striking imagery of a nation that is wounded, sick, and unaware of its true condition, drawing connections to the ongoing human need for renewal of both mind and heart. They discuss God's desire not for performative spirituality, but for transformed lives marked by justice, care for the vulnerable, and faithfulness.

At the heart of the passage is a gracious invitation: "Come now, let us settle this." Despite rebellion, God offers cleansing, healing, and restoration—promising to make scarlet sins white as snow. The hosts connect this promise to the broader story of Scripture, pointing to Jesus as the one who alone can truly wash us clean and teach us how to live out God's call to love God and love people.

This episode invites listeners to slow down, allow God to search their hearts, and consider what faithful obedience looks like—not as a religious performance, but as a life shaped by humility, justice, and trust in God's provision.