I know that our reading was from Isaiah 56-60 this week, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about Isaiah 55. I read and re-read this chapter, it is so filled with hope and encouragement; and I felt that today we need to hear and embrace what we have in our Lord and Savior.
At the very beginning when Isaiah is talking about thirsty, weary and hungry people to come to the LORD and eat and drink without costs. I couldn’t help but think of what we spend our money and time on. We buy “things” to satisfy our temporary desires, rather than our long-term needs. The result is what Jesus saw in Matthew 9:36-38, people who are tired of being tired, harassed and left to themselves. Where is the advocate for the hurting, the lost and the crying? Is there no one that cares anymore about the down-trodden and rejected? I look at our present country and world culture and wonder, how many people do we see? I mean really see, not just acknowledge that they exist. The Lost are the focus of Matthew’s view. The Lost are waiting for the Gospel to be spoken to them, the Gospel is the power of God to those that Jesus sees. In Isaiah 55, we find that people have spent all their resources on stuff that will not satisfy. We live in a day right now where people are looking for HOPE – people need hope that things will be different, hope that things will change, hope that can only be found in Salvation through Jesus Christ. All other attempts to fill the void in mankind will fail. Oh, they may bring a temporary satisfaction, but not the longing for Peace and Joy – those are found only in the fruit of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer. So come to Me you without money and BUY – hold it how can they buy if they are broke? The buying isn’t with money but with our soul. God doesn’t want people to live an existence, He wants them to live the Joy filled life [John 10:10b]
So many people are seeking something that will satisfy – be it from drugs, sex, porn, illicit relationship, material goods or money – all fail leaving everyone groping in darkness for the answer to life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, this is the record that God has given us eternal Life, Life is in His Son – He that has Jesus as life, He that doesn’t have Jesus does not have life. Pretty simple, yet Isaiah says Seek the LORD while He may be found. I am not sure why, but mankind has to be totally bankrupt before he will entertain the possibility that God is the answer. Seek, Call on Him who is near. God isn’t hiding, we are the ones that have to come to Him. God has never moved, we have. In our pleasure-seeking world we have tried to replace God – sounds so very familiar like Romans 1:18-26!
The verses found in 8-12 are monumental – they describe for us the limitless God we serve, and the problem of mankind. We do not think in God ways. The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. Too often believers and non-believers ask so many questions of WHY GOD? Yet it is clear that God is not in a hurry as we are, and that His thoughts are higher than ours. God acts according to His divine plan for all people for all eternity. We, however are living in the immediate pretty much all the time. The verses also indicate the power of the Word of God – all we have to do is unleash its power by proclaiming and reading it. People reading the scriptures will unleash the power of His word to accomplish the desires of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is God-breathed, it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Also Hebrews 4:12 -” the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
I have read scripture to my children and grandchildren, it puts the Word of God in an active position to come back at the leading of the Spirit to bring conviction of the things of God. The Bible is powerful, it is effectual for the working of salvation to ALL people. The foolishness of preaching is God’s plan for stirring the hearts of the Lost. No man’s words can do that, only the inspired Word of God. Man’s words will fade, but God’s Word is established. Nothing changes or will be removed – God sustains it and preserves it for the generations of man. May the Word accomplish it effectual work in our lives today!
preachbetweenthelines 