01/31/21 – Isaiah 55:1-7
55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
1
God through Jesus has issued an open invitation to the entire human race. All we have to do is accept His free gift. There is no price we can pay ourselves.
John
7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
When we’re saved, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts. As long as we’re in fellowship with God, He will provide renewal and strength. We are to hunger and thirst after His word, and we will be filled.
2
We spend our time, energy and money chasing the things of this world. God knows we need to eat, but He tells us that isn’t to be our focus.
Matthew
4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
We have to put our focus on things above. The best way to do that is to read, study and pray. The word of God will teach, correct and guide us in all things.
3
Jesus came in the line of David as a sign to verify who He was. His blood has paid the price for our sins and is the foundation of the New Covenant we have with God.
Matthew
26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
We have to take the bread, that is, the Word into our hearts. When we open our minds and hearts the Spirit will guide us to understand how the whole word is one message. We can’t pick and choose. We have to take all of it.
4
Especially in these times, we have to keep our focus on Jesus. He is the author of our salvation and should be the captain of our souls. If we believe the Word of God can save our souls from Hell, shouldn’t be also believe that it can guide us in our everyday lives? Jesus and God can’t just be a Sunday thing. We have been given a new life through Jesus. We have to live that life in Jesus.
1 John
1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus died for the saved and for the lost. The price has already been paid. That’s what makes it a true choice. Everyone was lost before He paid the price. There’s nothing special about me that allowed me to be saved. I am a sinner saved by the grace of God. Anyone that thinks they are saved on any other basis is fooling themselves.
5
The Jews were used of God to bring Jesus into the world. They were far from perfect, and yet God used them. Even though we are each far from perfect, God can use us to bring the word to those around us.
Romans
15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Whether the time of the end is upon us or not, we all have a limited time. We are given each day and our portion of work to perform in it. We have to be obedient to God and do what He asks when He asks.
6
We are all blessed to be born in this Age of Grace. However, this age will one day come to an end.
Romans
13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Everyone since Paul has been looking for Jesus’ return, but the fact that it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean that it won’t.
Matthew
24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
7
We have a choice to make. We can live for ourselves, or we can live for God. When we live for God, He will use us to spread His light into the lives of those around us. If we live to ourselves, we will spread our own darkness into them. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will not turn you away.
Psalm
51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.