Isaiah 55:1-2 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 55:1-2 on biblegateway.com
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.
Devotion
Why do we spend our money and time on things that do not truly nourish and sustain our lives? That’s a deeply faithful question to answer in our consumer culture. Isaiah’s surprising word in this text is good news for the poor and famished and a challenging word for those of us with too much stuff in our lives. The season of Lent asks us to take stock of the goals we pursue, the benefits we seek. We are not alone in our self-examination, however. There is One, who calls us to a wholly other way of life.
Prayer
God, disquieter of our comfort, you have placed a powerful invitation before us. As we remember those who live with daily hunger and thirst in our world, give us courage to examine our own appetites and cravings. With gentle mercy, lead us again to the rich fare you offer; for Christ’s sake. Amen.