Offer the Parable
Isaiah 55: 1-2: “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?” In one of the more direct and generous expressions of love, God spells out his plans for humanity, for Israel in two plain sentences: a standing offer from the beginning until our final generation.
Isaiah is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Its pages are full of love and correction from a God and Father, toward mankind. I’m happy when Bible study takes me to, Isaiah. I also love free stuff, so this chapter of Isaiah presents an attention-catching offer to me. I remember reading Isaiah 55 for the first time, several years ago. I admit I didn’t understand what I was reading at the time. It was just reading the Bible to me then. But over time, as I matured and understanding set in, I began to see how much love God poured into His testimony to our world; God invites people like me who didn’t know we needed him, to recieve His free grace and Salvation.
I did mention I love free. The context of the message of Isaiah 55: 1-2, is what good parenting is all about. In the verse, the prophet Isaiah, through the Spirit calls anyone who is hungry or thirsty to come and buy food, buy drink for free. While it’s tempting to think about food or drinks, when we read the words Isaiah, it is better to think in terms of what God had in mind – salvation. The offer was about more than food or drink. The offer is Life, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness from God toward us instead of what our sin deserves. The love we receive when we turn to God becomes more precious than food each day we live in Christ and heal from the wounds of who we were before Christ.
Without money and without cost: How many times have you heard the phrase ‘freedom isn’t free’? I’ll be honest, I usually look for the fine print when I see the word “free”, because some things in this world cost more than they’re worth, when they’re free. That is the world we live in so it’s better not to get caught by surprise. When we come to know God, we discover that the Lord is trustworthy in everything he says and does. We know this because His offer of forgiveness and life only needs us to believe in Jesus. We can buy the proverbial bread, water, milk, and wine without cost or money when we turn to God. The cost was paid by Jesus when He willingly bore the weight of the cross for us – that is love; to lay down life and crown so we can all afford the free offer we could not afford any other way.
Why We should be willing to accept
Most of us are spirited away when we get free stuff; we talk about it if it’s good stuff. Especially if there is a lot of it. The grace of God is free for everyone willing to repent and will not run out until the day Jesus Christ returns to claim those who are His. When we share the gospel, it is for the benefit of others to hear the message, the same spiritual bread we bought free when we first received the gospel. We do it because we believe God sent Jesus as a means to redeem every man and woman He could from this fallen world by the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus. The love we receive compels us to speak the words that first gave us the hope of salvation, in Christ.
The offer cannot be forced on anyone. We must make our own choice to believe in Jesus. No judgment because we could all be judged. It will not cost you anything more than your time and you are only asked to believe in Jesus Christ, as your personal Lord and Savior. The wine and the milk we get come from the finest pastures and vineyards, and the bread from the finest bakery; made to last for eternity. One drink refreshes the thirstiest soul; one bite and you’re filled forever. It is an offer that will only be matched by the joy we get from being in the presence of Jesus Christ.
“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”. One of the greatest joys of my life was the day I believed. I found healing from my inner struggles and a path to freedom from my inner demons. Words of truth that led me out of darkness. I am among those planting seeds for those who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior because I want to tell the world about the Love, I could never afford but do have. God’s free gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ is a wonderful life we are called to. The words of truth found in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, offer true freedom and healing in Jesus and I hope that if you have read, you will be one of the blessed of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
While it is good to encourage one another to succeed in life, we who have come to the foot of the cross owe a debt for our calling we can’t repay any other way than to pick up our cross. And some go out to invite others so that if even one person hears and turns to God, there will be a celebration in heaven over you. So come, if you are hungry or thirsty or tired; Jesus is our free spiritual bread and drink to which you are invited to freely come and eat and drink.
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