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Come to the Waters

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what  is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what  is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Isaiah 55:1-2 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/isa.55.1-2.NKJV

The things of God satisfy. There is a verse “every good gift comes from God”, but I wonder how many times we’ve looked at the cheap substitutes and thought that they were “blessings” when they ended up being idols and traps for our selfish, prideful, rebellious hearts?

Those things that we find ourself clinging to – things, wealth, comfort, security, pleasure – how many of them truly satisfy without leaving us hungry for even more after a short while? That isn’t satisfaction,  that isn’t abundance, that is slavery and addiction to sin and death.

But the peace that we find in trusting God, that carries us through seasons where our attire does not have to be dictated by our daily circumstances. We can praise God from our prison cell, from our broken home, from our homelessness,  from our battle against addiction,  from our sick bed,  from our loneliness, from our recovering from a broken/betrayed heart,  from wherever we are in life.

And yes, the fruit that comes with a life of belief is valuable – so valuable that it was bought with His blood so that it could be given to us as a free gift. So,  yes,  come and buy this wonderful gift,  not with money,  or works, but with a life of faith – a perspective of grattitude for the unmerited grace and favor of God poured out for you,  Christ follower.

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You can endure

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.10.12-13.NLT

You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.10.23-24.NLT

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 58 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.15.51-58.NLT

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Clean hands, Pure heart

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered. 
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.32.1-2.ESV

We all have had dirty hands before. Did we just leave them dirty,  or did we wash them until they were clean? Did we just run some water over them but not scrub them clean? Or did we diligently wash them with soap and water,  getting all of the filth and grime off of them,  even from underneath or fingernails,  because we know that the filth and germs are not good for us?

Isn’t it the same with our hearts,  our Spirit,  our soul? Isn’t it clear to us that it needs to be washed by the blood of the Lamb,  by our faith and belief and following in Christ’s footsteps,  turning away from the filth and enticements and ways of this world to walk in a new way,  bearing the fruit of His Holy Spirit?

So we must encourage one another,  to not play around with empty religious practice by just running our flesh under the water but never really intending our lives to be delivered,  surrendered, washed clean – but to instead seek that fully surrendered, born again life that is renewed daily by the redeeming power of the blood, by the strength of Christ who lives in us,  by the renewing of our minds as we seek God’s will for our lives.  

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord ?
And who shall stand in his holy place? 
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully. 
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Psalm 24:3-6 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.24.3-6.ESV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which  is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of  himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:1-3 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.12.1-3.NKJV

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Attitude & Desires

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:27-29 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.6.27-29.NKJV

What are you laboring for most in your life?

What is your greatest desire?

What is it that you’re all in and won’t stop striving for even until your death?

What is it that you’re willing to suffer for and go through trials and tribulation for?

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rev.2.10.NKJV

Let’s remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their faithfulness. They refused to worship the gold statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. They were not willing to compromise all that they believed. They took their stands for the living God, even if it meant death. And even though they were thrown into the fiery furnace,  God delivered them.

As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:36-39 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.8.36-39.NKJV