Lenten Devotional for Thursday, March 15, 2007 

Today’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Throughout Isaiah there are a number of warnings and denunciations for Israel and other nations. But in Isaiah 55 there is an invitation to salvation, salvation which is a free gift. The invitation is extended to those who thirst to come to the waters, for those who have no money to come and eat, for those in need to receive what is needed without cost.

In this day and age we love to get free stuff, but are often suspicious that there are no hidden conditions or strings attached. Spiritually speaking, we tend to want to earn or deserve what we would receive. The apostle Paul weighed in on this thought in writing to the Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The invitation to salvation is the invitation to God’s free gift. Continuing in Chapter 55, Isaiah presents the question, “Why do people spend to receive that which is not truly sustaining or satisfying?” Careful attention to the Lord’s invitation will lead to receiving what is good and fulfilling.

Spelling out the invitation to salvation further Isaiah says, “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; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Accepting the invitation to salvation involves self-denial and repentance, resulting in forgiveness.

The invitation to salvation is the invitation to God’s free gift. We may well wonder how this is possible, how can salvation be a free gift? Isaiah gives God’s response as, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” One biblical editor summarizes these thoughts this way, “God’s love stems from a plan infinitely superior to anything man could have devised.”

It is possible because it comes from God and His incredible love for us.

God’s thoughts and God’s ways extend to us the invitation to salvation. Have we accepted that invitation and do we daily rededicate ourselves to the Giver of this free gift?

Prayer: Gracious Lord, thank You for extending Your invitation to salvation. Lead us to accept and live out Your invitation to
salvation. Amen.


1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.

5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.