DEVOTION// Eat What is Good
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live (Isaiah 55:1-3).
Have you ever walked through a busy marketplace? Sellers shout and try to catch more business. Customers barter for a lower a price. Deals go down all around you. This is a little different than your usual trip to the local grocery store.
God's free market
God pictures you and me walking through a busy, noisy marketplace—our lives. In Isaiah chapter 55, God shouts out to us. The LORD has the goods we want and need. He has the perfect price. We’ll love the banquet he prepares for us.
The LORD needs to shout to get our attention. God knows there is so much competition. He knows we listen to the lies, the half-truths and the quick-fixes. They’re so appealing but their promises are deceptive. Sometimes those voices call us to sin. Sometimes they call us to busy our lives and occupy our hearts with material things instead of God. When those voices are calling with temptations, we all too often buy into their lies and sin. We listen to their voices instead of God’s Word.
God's free offer
The LORD God sees you weaving through the busy marketplace of your life. Through the clatter, chatter and chaos, the LORD shouts for your attention in these verses. What he’ll give you is worlds better than all the deceptive and fleeting goods this world or your sinful nature tries to peddle to you.
How is the LORD’s offer better? God’s Good News is for all, for you! The LORD provides it free of cost to you. The effect is fabulous—you will be satisfied and delight in what God gives you. You will live—now and eternally. God makes this promise and God fulfills this promise. Jesus did all the work.
Free food that gives life
What is the LORD shouting about? The LORD shouts: “Eat what is good!” What good is he offering to you? God’s Word. God’s grace. God’s Son. God’s forgiveness. God’s peace. God’s home—heaven.
Through the noisy marketplace of your life, the LORD shouts for your attention. Listen. Receive his gifts. Be satisfied and delight in them. Forgiveness and peace are yours.
Prayer: LORD, in your grace you give me forgiveness and peace through Jesus. Open my ears and heart to listen to your voice above all others. Use my voice to share your gift of grace with those in my life. Amen.
Source: Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com, August 23, 2017. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.