Isaiah 55:1-5 (NRSV)
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Chapter 55Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Verse 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Verse 3Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Verse 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Verse 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Devotion
Everyone is invited to the waters. God's proclamation of abundance is for everyone. If you have ever been excluded from anything, then you know the turmoil that takes place in your gut and the impact it has on you. But you also know the excitement and comfort of being invited in and included.
God invites us to the banquet that puts all other parties to shame; nothing and no one can out-give or out-do God. So why do we waste our time, money and effort on things that do not proclaim God's gracious abundance to all the nations? Because we are so completely human.
Even with this grace-filled covenant, we are tempted by the next shiny bauble, scared by the next big crisis or frustrated by how slow we're getting our way. So we decide to take things into our own hands, attempt to move God out of the way and put our trust in the wrong place.
When that trust is broken and when our own strength is insufficient, we are reminded again that God's love and grace are still present for us. God's everlasting promise is for you and me and everyone. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Gracious Lord, you provide abundant gifts to your people. Open our eyes and hearts to how you would have us use these gifts to your glory. Help us focus our energy and work on people who are in need. Guide us in how to share your promises and abundance with everyone. Push us to places and people who need your word of everlasting love. Amen.