December 31: A GLORIOUS INVITATION
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1
On a hot day, nothing satisfies like taking in a long, slow quaff of cold water. But what about when it’s not hot? Doctors continually warn us to be very careful to avoid dehydration. It makes good sense to drink before you feel thirsty. But too often our senses are not in tune with the reality of the need.
The LORD compares Himself to water. And the archenemy has been at work to dull our senses regarding our need of Him. Truly, we live in a world of broken cisterns.
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn for themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 (see also 17:13)
Ask yourself: Do I know personally the One who is the fountain, or source, of life? Or do I only latch on to what others say about Him—things that may or may not be correct? Today’s opening verse addresses all who desire (or thirst) for a better grasp of the will and ways of the LORD. To have such a thirst means a longing for the grace to find peace with Him—and to live continually in that peace. The Creator (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16) who is also the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) made man with an inner longing for Him that finds lasting satisfaction only in fellowship with Him.
Come…and buy! Those who are hungry and thirsty need not go all over in search of fulfillment. Jesus is inviting each of us to come to Him in faith. The ‘currency’ required is your sin. The LORD is asking you to give it up in exchange for wine and milk. These symbols represent the blessings of salvation, the doctrine and the nourishment of God’s instructive Word. Every need of the sinner is met in Jesus, the Word of life and light (John 1:1,4). All of God’s promises throughout the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus. Have you accepted the gift that He offers? Do you believe the Word?
Those who hunger and thirst for spiritual blessings must show that they desire to secure them. The blessings of salvation are free, but in order to take hold of them, the sinner agrees to let go of all that he has. God never promised to bestow salvation upon any who are indifferent or unwilling. Make Him first in your life and cling to Him above all else! This is the invitation. The choice is yours, for He will never interfere with the free exercise of your power of choice.
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” Joshua 24:15
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 (see also Revelation 3:18)