All who are thirsty...

“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.” Isaiah 55:1

How gracious an invitation! Come, those who are thirsty. Come find the richest of fare at no price, for the payment has been made by our Savior! How remarkable that such grace could be extended to you and me. Though we often throw away our hard-earned money and resources on that which holds no value, though we toil for what cannot bring contentment (Isaiah 55:2), the Father beckons us to, “Come!”

We need to bring nothing to His table but our need, our most dire, desperate thirst. For in Him, we find living water; our thirst is finally quenched; our souls are at last made whole. “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Four times in the first verse of Isaiah’s 55^th chapter the Lord pleads for us to come. Come and receive. Come and enjoy. Come and buy at no cost. Come and be filled. Mercy is available for the parched and weary, but we must acknowledge our thirst.

This blessed opportunity is available to the thirsty. “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live (v. 3).” The offer is for life, and the Father’s tone is urgent. There is no need in pretending one is satisfied while sand is spilling from the mouth of his dry soul. To delay in coming would be a grave mistake, for the living water will not always be close at hand. Consider what the prophet records in verse 6: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon him while He is near.”

What keeps you from partaking of Christ’s eternal spring? Why would you not call others to come to this well? Have you forgotten that this overflowing cup was not purchased by your earthly efforts? Has it slipped your mind that this everlasting drink was not poured from your shaky hand nor held by your feeble might? It was and shall always be available simply and purely by His grace alone.

Through Isaiah hundreds of years before the Messiah’s birth, later reiterated by Christ in the Gospels, the call remains the same today: may all who are thirsty to come and drink (John 7:37). But pay close attention to the words written down by the beloved disciple in Revelation 21. After seeing the new heaven and new earth and the holy city, new Jerusalem, where God will dwell forever with His people, Jesus announces that He is making all things new. He then has John record these precious words that echo both the prophet as well as our Savior with the Samaritan woman (John 4:10-15)… “It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment (Revelation 21:6).”

Perhaps we've grown used to our dryness, and living less than contented lives has become all too common and familiar. Maybe we've neglected the source of our true satisfaction. Might we partake of these cool, refreshing waters this morning. May we remember the faithful fountain from which it flows. And might we implore others to come and sip and find that which actually fulfills, that which is offered freely, the deep well of grace that will never run dry. Salvation and sustenance are at hand. May all who are thirsty, come.

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler