Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
-Isaiah 55:1a (ESV)

As I read this verse I think about the purpose of the church. In this passage Isaiah is announcing an invitation to the world. This invitation is significant because it breaks from the Hebrew idea that salvation is only for the Jews and opens the door to the rest of the world. However, the invitation is still very specific and speaks directly to the thirsty. Isaiah is inviting those who thirst to come to the water and drink deeply. He is welcoming people to partake of the living water that is Christ Himself (John 4), because he understands that only Christ will satisfy a person’s deepest need.

In the same way the church is to open it’s arms and shout out a welcome message to it’s community. But, not just a welcome message, a message that welcomes the thirsty and hungry. A message that welcomes the hurting and lost. I message that welcomes the least among us and shows them kindness and love (Matthew 25). If the church is a source for living water (and it should be), then we need to shout a welcome message from the rooftops to everyone who will listen; inviting the world to come, drink, find real satisfaction and everlasting life.

P.S. Not only should we welcome people into our fellowship and teach them about the living water and the life it brings, we should also go out into the neighborhoods sharing the good news everywhere we go.

Ok, I started this blog quite a while ago with a simple purpose, to discuss what God is teaching me. Since that time I have written about many other things, some more interesting than others, but I have talked less and less about the Word. So…today I am starting a series that will change that. I intend to spend the next few weeks slowly walking through the text of Isaiah 55. These posts will be part commentary, part Bible study, and part random thoughts and reflections. Even as I am digging through this scripture I will be hoping that you will share your thoughts as well in the form of comments.

And now, the subject of our discussion, I give you, Isaiah 55 (from the English Standard Version):

Isaiah 55

The Compassion of the LORD

“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
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.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”