Text: Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-12, John 7:37-39, 1 Corinthians 2:9
Last August, my husband and I went to Seattle for a Christian counseling conference. The entire city was experiencing an “unprecedented heat wave” of 80-degree days, which to us felt like a welcome reprieve from the sweltering weather we’d been suffering in Tennessee. On the second to last day of the conference, we noticed another couple at our table smirk when the facilitator apologized yet again for the weather, and quickly struck up a conversation about our common hatred of humidity.
As it turned out, they were from Atlanta, and since we only had a few minutes to chat, the couple asked if we wanted to join them that night for dinner. They’d had reservations for their anniversary at an acclaimed waterfront restaurant for more than six months, but the wife assured me that she could call and get the hostess to add two more seats to the table.
What unfolded that night over dinner was nothing short of the gospel. As the sun melted into the water, our conversation went wide and deep, covering the vast terrain of our lives. We tasted grilled octopus and braised lamb shoulder and homemade pastas. When the entrees arrived, Patrick and I ordered the most expensive bottle of wine we could afford, hoping to offer a small gesture of gratitude to our new friends for sharing their anniversary reservation with us. I still remember looking at the price and wondering if we’d gone a little overboard. But this night was special; there was something providential about it.
Several hours later, I noticed the waitress drop a black folded book in front of our new friends. I elbowed my husband in the ribs hard—the universal wife-code for ‘get out your wallet!’—but it was too late. The check had been paid. A signature was already on the bottom of the receipt.
“But,” I started, embarrassed. “That was a really expensive meal. We wanted to…” I looked to Patrick for back-up. “…This was your anniversary!”
It’s hard to think of the extravagance of that night without imagining the extravagance of Jesus. Isaiah paints us a picture of the most opulent love—a free gift available to anyone and everyone. No one is excluded. No one is unwelcome. Our God says, “Come!” He prepares a table before us with food—not just for our bodies, but for our souls. And it costs us nothing. The view from that table will be magnificent because our host, our friend, is the Son of God.
Isaiah and Jesus invite all to come. But as the bride of Christ, we, too, can join in offering the invitation, which echoes from the Old Testament straight through the book of Revelation:
The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thirsty let him come and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
– Revelation 22:17
Let nothing keep us from joining in the feast. For as gracious as our God has been in His invitation, not one of us can fathom the goodness He’s prepared for us—for all who love Him—in the days to come (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Thanks be to God.
Claire Gibson is a freelance writer and editor whose work has been featured both locally and nationally in publications including The Washington Post, and Entrepreneur Magazine. An Army kid who grew up at West Point, New York, Claire is currently growing roots in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves her husband, Patrick, and their dog, Winnie.
“Let nothing keep us from joining in the feast. For as gracious as our God has been in His invitation, not one of us can fathom the goodness He’s prepared for us—for all who love Him—in the days to come” I love this so much! Jesus, let me not miss the feast!
http://www.in-due-time.COm
isn’t it a wonderful thought, that we can look forward to a life in heaven!
Today’s reading reminded me of this quote by C. S. Lewis, from his book The Four Loves:
“For a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.” The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host.”
I’m convicted of sometimes believing that I can earn that invitation by my own achievements. But if it wasn’t for Jesus, we wouldn’t even be invited.
Father, when we think we’re better than another human being, or self-sufficient, or good in any way, let us see ourselves in comparison to your perfect goodness. You alone are holy, may your Spirit move us to never think highly of ourselves and to never withhold our love and compassion to another person
Thank you for this Tochi!
“It’s all part of the The Plan.” A friend of mine told me she reminds herself of this truth often, as a parent of triplet one-year olds. When they are late, someone is crying, some one is hungry, someone needs a diaper change….all at the same time. It’s all part of the The Plan. I’ve felt a huge sense of peace as I’ve now made this my mantra, repeating it to myself often as my two very young children have some pretty unscheduled needs. Try as I may to organize my day, my babies have different needs and it often leaves me feeling tired and frazzled; scrambling to make sure I don’t forget a diaper bag or to make dinner. I try to center myself by reminding myself that all this -this chaos, messy house, babies crying, no sleep – is all part of The Plan. His plan surpasses anything I could create, it will have more purpose; a more significant outcome.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thought are not your thoughts, My ways are not your ways.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'”
Spot on momma! May God shower you with his grace and strength today and always.
Sarah, thank you so much for sharing this! I have a similar mantra to help me through the days raising our family! The Lord blessed my husband and I with 3 children, but it took 8 years and 3 miscarriages to get them. I gave up my dream of a larger family. Imagine our surprise, when at 40 the Lord opened my womb!! We had 2 more children in 2 years. Now facing turning 44 this summer (and my husband will be 55), I am pregnant with number 6! I am beyond thankful, but pregnancy is so much harder than it was when I was 25, 30, and 33. Long gone are the days of a perfect home, always washed clothes and dishes. Sometimes after a night of little sleep and facing a mountain of cleaning, I will wonder why the Lord didn’t bless us with these children 15 or 20 years ago!! But it’s all part of His plan. Amen!
Rebecca – wow!! Blown away by this. Thank you so much for sharing.
– Stormye
Evrneoye would benefit from reading this post
congratulations Rebecca (I pray for your growing family) ! God has a lovely plan for your family clearly!
As just losing a precious cousin to cancer, I pray that I, his whole family, and especially his mom hold on to Isaiah 55:8 and believe that God has a greater purpose in this.. please pray for the hearts of my family at this time. I love this community and pray that each of you are blessed abundantly
Praying for you and your family.
Shayne, I am so sorry for your loss. I am praying God’s comfort and peace for you and your family.
Shaye, I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family in this time of devastation.
– Stormye
Prayers lifted for all who loved him.
Morning all! First time commenter here. I just wanted to share a song written by the worship team at my old church called “Trees Will Clap.” It’s based on Isaiah 55.
Even my 3 yo and 2 yo love to sing and clap along to this. Hope you all have a wonderful day!
http://crossingsongs.com/album/liturgy-of-seasons-vol-iii-springs-ardor
Thanks for sharing! Such a beautiful song.
Some of my favorite verses are in chapter 55. I especially like verse 7, “…let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” I love that God doesn’t just pardon us. He abundantly pardons us. He brings out the best robe, puts a ring on our finger and kills the fatted calf. And we celebrate!
Have a blessed day, sisters!
He is utterly devoted. Have a blessed day yourself
“…let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Abundantly pardon.
What a glorious thought. To turn from our sinful ways and be met with the lavish love of God. We turn from death and sadness and brokenness and are caught up in the wide, deep, and long love of Christ. We are wrapped in his arms.
These verses jumped out to me as well not only for the personal gratitude that He freely pardons my mess but also a deep conviction to never stand in the way of another repenting. I hate to admit it but I judge! There will be people I meet who I have a hard time accepting into the family because of whatever stupid thing my mind conjures up and I have to remember God freely pardons every single soul who seeks him. Who am I to turn my back instead of cheer them on? May we not simply let others turn to God but may we be women who celebrate and cheer for them as they do so…no matter who they are!
So true. I’ve had to confess my own judgment of others and my self-righteous pride as well. God welcomes me abundantly just as he welcomes other sinners abundantly. I do not need to stand in the way of his grace. ❤
I feel like we’ve been seeing a lot of opposites in the passages and devotions this week, and your comment hits on that, too. I love how God turns things around. Thank you for giving me yet another connection today!