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Isaiah Chapter 55 – "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."

If anyone ever needed a relevant word from the Living God at this time - a Word that satisfies - a Word you can receive now even if you have come with no money - even if you have no money - then here is God saying so clearly that He wants to bless your life - and no payment is required on your part.

We can count our many blessings - but we cannot buy them.

God makes it so simple - God makes it so easy - and yet, man battles with this.

People struggle with this. Would some like it to be made harder - or more difficult - so that in one sense they could say that they deserved to receive these blessings of God?

Having read Psalm 92to 94, and having looked at the significance of Psalm 91for supernatural protection which God offers us as we make our way through 2025, it is good to hear this most personal invitation from Almighty God – especially if we are dry and thirsty and need refreshing.

Come - to where there is refreshing water - you don't need money - you do not need to struggle - you don't need to buy anything expensive - and, if you possessed all the money in the world - and owned all the gold in the world - you could still not buy what God wants to give you. No man can buy what Jesus offers. If a man struggles over this he can sink in the very waters, which are given to save, bless and satisfy.

Make sure you know where there is refreshing reviving living water.

Don't sink - just drink - and be satisfied.

Isaiah goes on to say - Why spend money on what is not bread? Why work and never be satisfied?

Why bother working and eating and drinking only to end up dissatisfied?

God has given the waters from which we are to drink. God has provided us with the Bread of Life.

Listen - listen - to me - and eat what is good. Listen with a listening ear - wanting to hear from God - wanting to believe what God has to say - and not to miss it – listen, waiting to accept what Jesus has to say, through the Holy Spirit.

“Listen to me.” That might be regarded by some as arrogance - not so. You will be satisfied. This richest of fare won't make you overweight - nor will this drink harm you in any way. You can drink what Jesus offers you and never go over the limit.

Verse 3 has such simple words of one syllable.

Isaiah goes on to speak to the people of Israel - reminding them of who they are and what God is going to do - and the influence they are about to have.

In verse 6 , Isaiah issues a word of command that has blessed thousands over the years. We cannot find Jesus just when we want to - when we decided. There comes that moment when Jesus calls - when God draws near - when God speaks - when the Holy Spirit moves. Our response is - "Come Jesus - save me - rescue me - deal with me - forgive my sins - fill me with the Holy Spirit." There has to be a calling in some shape or form - and that might mean losing your dignity.

Better to lose your dignity, than to lose the fulness of salvation!

In verse 7 , Isaiah is so clear and specific - and he spells it out in such detail - "Let the wicked forsake he way and the evil man his thoughts.

There has to be this turning to the Lord - and the response is - HE will have mercy on him - to our God, for He will freely pardon. The words could not be simpler - the instructions could not be more simple or straightforward. Yet - people struggle with this.

The order is - turn to - and receive mercy and pardon.

Here in Isaiah is the clear notion of repenting - turning around - beginning to walk in a different direction.

"My thoughts are not your thoughts…." We even have to begin to change the way we think - let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 2 ) - be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ( Romans 12 )

Jesus wants to share His thoughts with us - so that we may walk in His ways.

God's thoughts and God's ways are very different from man's. We come to that point where we have to decide - Which way am I going to go? Whose thoughts, values, are going to govern my life?

But God is not offering us anything mediocre - His ways and thoughts are higher and far better than any of ours.

When God gives rain and snow - they accomplish something - the earth is watered - crops grow - and a harvest results - so is my word that goes out from my mouth - it will not return to me empty.

God has a purpose for the word, which HE speaks today. God wants to accomplish something. He wants to achieve something, which only His Word can achieve.

Isaiah speaks about what will happen regarding those who respond positively to the word which comes from the mouth of God - You will go out with JOY - you will be led forth in peace.

No, you cannot put your hand in your pocket to buy any of this. It is all free - to those who seek and call and turn.

There is a picture of what will happen when these captives are released from Babylon and return to Jerusalem. The trees will respond. Instead of sharp prickly wounding bushes there will grow something very different - and this will be a sign to the world that the living God is at work.

“Lord our God – our loving Father – thank You for the many generous ways in which You refresh and revive and encourage and strengthen disciples of Jesus. Thank You that what Isaiah preached and proclaimed and taught can be experienced by us today. Heavenly Father, we pray for those who do not know what is available – help us to share the whole Gospel from Bethlehem to Pentecost. We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)