Isaiah 55:1–5 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 55:1–5 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. 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
I can almost hear God smiling when I read Isaiah’s invitation. “Come, everyone who thirsts.” Not everyone who has it all together. Not everyone who can afford it. Not everyone who finally figured life out. Just…come.
We spend so much of life trying to prove we have enough. Enough money. Enough time. Enough patience. Enough faith. Some days we’re even wondering if we are enough. God begins somewhere completely different—with our emptiness. God meets us at our thirst, our hunger, our need for grace.
Isaiah reminds us that this is the way the kingdom of God works. God doesn’t sell grace to those who can afford it. God gives it freely to those willing to receive it.
Maybe that’s today’s invitation. Stop trying to prove you have enough. Simply come to the One who already is.
Prayer
Gracious God, when I spend my energy trying to prove that I am enough, remind me that your invitation has never depended on my accomplishments. Lead me again to the living water only you can give. Amen.
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