Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Feast of free grace

Bible Reading:  55:1-3

Key Verse:  15

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2)


DEVOTION

Having celebrated the holy week we Christians should have understood and experienced the depth of God’s love. We always work so hard in trying to have the best- the best college, the best job, the best home, the best vacation ect ect. But I always wonder when it comes to our salvation we succumb to Satan’s folly and sometimes make some wrong and dreadful choices that hurt us or the ones we love deeply. Why is that so? Why not spend on what is everlasting and eternal? 
Isaiah as God’s messenger to Judah spoke boldly to the people to turn from their lives of sin and warned them of God’s judgement and punishment. The last few chapters of the book of Isaiah however are filled with hope as Isaiah unfolds God’s love and yearning for his people to return, repent and be renewed.
Isaiah 55 Verse 1: God’s calling.  Here, God our father is extending a special invitation to enter into a personal and everlasting relationship with him. This invitation is different. This invitation is for everyone- for the rich, the poor, the righteous, it’s for the sinners and the broken hearted as well. The only requirement towards being invited is that we must have a “thirst” to taste the goodness of our master, the Lord. For a Christian such an invitation means it’s free, it’s for everyone and it’s already paid for by the blood of Christ.
Isaiah 55 Verse 2- Making the choice. Here our God is crying out to mankind to choose him, the life giving water, over other things that actually will not satisfy. Jesus says in John 4:10 to the Samaritan women  “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Submission to God is often difficult for believers due to a deeply rooted sinful nature, the desire for personal control, and pride. A desire to change, a daily intentional surrender to God, continual prayer, meditating the word of God and trusting in God promises will help us understand God’s love and submit to God’s holy will. 
Isaiah 55 Verse 3: God making an everlasting covenant with mankind. God’s everlasting covenant with mankind is a divine and unconditional love aiming to have a covenantal relationship with God. In a weary world burdened by life’s struggles Jesus spoke some of the most comforting and reassuring words- Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Rest means that we will not carry our suffering alone but God will be right there in our midst carrying our yoke. Christ purposefully exposed himself to all the sufferings because of his love for us. This is what the holy week taught me personally -God’s unconditional love, his faithfulness and presence in our suffering and through it all God will take the glory.

PRAYER

  Lord keep me thirsty and always draw me towards your live giving stream 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

   Salvation is not earned but freely given by the grace of God


Mrs. Ancy John , Immanuel Mar Thoma Church , Houston, Texas 

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