Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Soul Food! Isaiah 55-56; Revelation 22

May the mumbling commence!

Are you hankering for some soul food?  Then come on y’all!  God’s got it.  Read from the beginning of Isaiah chapter fifty-five:

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk – it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul
Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.  He displayed my power by being my witness and a leader among the nations.  You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." 
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.  Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Verses 1-7)

What is soul food?  It’s not just southern comfort cooking.  I remember that well from my years in the southeastern United States.  Soul food is nothing less than the Word of God.

Come and drink.  The Word of God makes our hearts glad like wine.  The Word of God nourishes us like milk.

And that means listen.  Open wide your ears to the spoken Word of God.  Receive the covenant.  It outlasts the Energizer Bunny.  It’s packed with mercies and unfailing love.

Through God’s Spirit, we will command the nations.  Through God’s Spirit we will be made glorious.

So seek the Lord.  Call on your living God.  Turn from your own desires and agendas.  Turn to the Lord, and receive mercy and abundant pardon.  That, my brothers and sisters, is amazing grace.  Would that all humanity would accept it!

Even at the end of Revelation the call to come and drink is before us.  Won’t we come?  You ‘all come.  Read from Revelation chapter twenty-two.

Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.  Outside the city are the dogs – the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. 
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." 
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come – anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. (Verses 14-17)

Come.  Get a taste of the original soul food.  It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.  And it’s free!  Bon appetite!

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out 

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