Isaiah 55:1-5 - Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
The beginning of this passage is odd. It says, "He who has no money, come, buy and eat!" That doesn't make sense. I could understand it if God said, "Come, take this for free and eat" or even "Come, grab and eat." But God doesn't say that. He says, "Come, buy and eat." How can you buy something if you have no money—if you can't pay the price?
There's only one way I can think of, and that's if somebody else gives you the money. If your father or best friend gives you the price of the bread you want, then you can go and buy it, sure. It isn't your money you're handing over—but you still get fed.
Okay—but God's clearly offering more than ordinary food and drink here. The bread and wine stand for something much greater—God's forgiveness, love, mercy, and everlasting life. They stand for what we usually call "salvation." That is what we are to buy—and it will satisfy us forever. If we can only come up with the price!
And that's where Jesus comes in. Like a good father or a best friend, He takes the price of what we need most and puts it in our hands. "Go ahead," He says. "Get what you need. I've already paid for it." And of course He has—through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus has given Himself as the price of our salvation, and we will never go hungry or thirsty again. Thanks be to God!
WE PRAY: Lord, thank You for giving me what I need the most, at the cost of Your own life—because You love me. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When did someone lend you the money to get what you needed? Tell the story.
2. Why did they do that for you?
3. Why do you think God refuses to take human hard work—even a lifetime of it—as the price for forgiveness, life, and salvation?
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 119:1-88 1 Thessalonians 5
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