8/1/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our reading from Isaiah 55:1-5 calls the people of God to a feast. They are to look to God in trust and receive His Word. The Word of God and the covenant of God are a magnificent feast.
God tells us here what we knew already. Imagine, for instance, a feast. In my culture, on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and maybe a few other times a year, families tend to gather for a big meal. Under normal circumstances, dieticians tell us that a serving of meat is about a quarter of a pound. That’s a piece about the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes. Yet, for Thanksgiving dinner, people normally try to plan on nearly a pound of turkey, two potatoes, two or three pieces of bread, a big mound of stuffing, and a large serving of a couple of different vegetables. All this is followed by a slice or two of pie. It’s an enormous feast. After eating a meal like this, we regularly say that we don’t think we will ever eat again.
Why is it that a few hours later we make a turkey sandwich? It’s because the food we can buy at the grocery store doesn’t satisfy us. Yes, it keeps us living. It can even make us fat. But it passes away. If you eat twice as much food as you should for a month, then make up for it by going a month without any food at all . . . well, don’t try it.
God calls his people to trust in him. He has made great promises in his covenants. These are everlasting. They satisfy forever, unlike a Thanksgiving dinner. He promises an identity which is secure. In Christ you are an heir of God’s kingdom. In Christ you lay hold of all the promises made by God to Abraham. In Christ you have eternal life. In Christ you have hope that doesn’t pass away. In Christ you have the good news which everyone on earth needs. And it came to you freely.
Do we look to the Lord in faith? Do we realize that he is giving us a precious gift? I pray that we will.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our reading from Isaiah 55:1-5 calls the people of God to a feast. They are to look to God in trust and receive His Word. The Word of God and the covenant of God are a magnificent feast.
God tells us here what we knew already. Imagine, for instance, a feast. In my culture, on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and maybe a few other times a year, families tend to gather for a big meal. Under normal circumstances, dieticians tell us that a serving of meat is about a quarter of a pound. That’s a piece about the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes. Yet, for Thanksgiving dinner, people normally try to plan on nearly a pound of turkey, two potatoes, two or three pieces of bread, a big mound of stuffing, and a large serving of a couple of different vegetables. All this is followed by a slice or two of pie. It’s an enormous feast. After eating a meal like this, we regularly say that we don’t think we will ever eat again.
Why is it that a few hours later we make a turkey sandwich? It’s because the food we can buy at the grocery store doesn’t satisfy us. Yes, it keeps us living. It can even make us fat. But it passes away. If you eat twice as much food as you should for a month, then make up for it by going a month without any food at all . . . well, don’t try it.
God calls his people to trust in him. He has made great promises in his covenants. These are everlasting. They satisfy forever, unlike a Thanksgiving dinner. He promises an identity which is secure. In Christ you are an heir of God’s kingdom. In Christ you lay hold of all the promises made by God to Abraham. In Christ you have eternal life. In Christ you have hope that doesn’t pass away. In Christ you have the good news which everyone on earth needs. And it came to you freely.
Do we look to the Lord in faith? Do we realize that he is giving us a precious gift? I pray that we will.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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