“Come, All Of You”

“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. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:1-9

Have you ever seen a church about to be demolished? Like any other building, the windows are taken out and big orange signs are at the front door telling people to KEEP OUT!

How people look on the outside is not an indication of what is in their hearts. God’s focus is on the inner life of people. He looks far below the surface of someone’s appearance and that’s what he desires for us to do as well. He also knows the hearts of those who appear to be “righteous” but are “full of hypocrisy” on the inside.

God’s message of welcome, which we are to show to others is clear. He wants everyone who come seeking water, to get their thirsts taken care of.

No one will know what you mean when you say, “God is love” – unless you show it.

Our Daily Bread – July 7, 2013