Money – Praying Pint

How are you living?

Mat 24:6-7  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mat 24:8  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mat 24:10  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

Mat 24:12  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Mat 24:32  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Mat 24:33  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mat 24:36  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Amos 6:3-6   O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?  “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,  who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,   who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Luke 12:19    And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

Luke 14:18   But they all alike began to make excuses.

Luke 17:26-28    Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

2Ti 3:1-5  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Luke 21:34   “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Romans 13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 Corinthians 7:29    This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

31  and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mat 24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Mat 24:44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

The world will be found in the same condition that it was in the day of the flood. When the flood came, men were found “eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage,” absorbed in their worldly pursuits, and utterly regardless of Noah’s repeated warnings. They saw no likelihood of a flood. They would not believe there was any danger. But at last the flood came suddenly and “took them all away.” All that were not with Noah in the ark were drowned. They were all swept away to their last account, unpardoned, unconverted, and unprepared to meet God. And our Lord says, “so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Ryle)

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. His return could be today. Are you looking for it? Are you living like He is coming within the next hour? Or, are you just living each day as if tomorrow will be the same as today, buying, selling, eating, working, etc…?

What is the application of these verses to our lives today? Surely we eat, sleep, work, buy, and sell as normal living requires. Imagine knowing the exact year, month, day, and time of the return of Jesus. Would you live differently than you are now? Would you stop neglecting the Word of God? Would you be less complacent in holy living? Would you think about what it means to live so that all of your thoughts, words, and actions honor and glorify Jesus Christ? Would you think different thoughts, speak different words, and would your actions be different? As the day approaches would you eagerly be telling others about its coming? Would you be giving less and less thought to worldly and fleshly desires? Would you be more kind, generous, loving, patient, humble, honorable, thankful, joyful with anticipation, rejoicing, praising, longing, and all in preparation for the return of Jesus your redeemer and savior?

If any answer to these questions is yes, are we living awake?

Think about how much of our time is consumed by cell phones, texting, Instagram, Twitter, Google, FaceBook, Rumble, ESPN, CNN, CMBC, etc…., not to mention what we consider leisure time. How much of this time is conducted with the ever-present thought that Jesus’s return could be within the next second?

It is so easy to be consumed with the busyness of living and the worries of today that the eyes of our hearts and minds are blind to living and eagerly watching and waiting for the return of Jesus.

Will He find you watching and living in such a way that reveals this anchored in your heart and mind?

Oh, that the Holy Spirit’s leading would be desired and listened to in our lives and guide us in how to live so that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified in all of our thoughts, words, and actions should Jesus’s return be within the next second or 100 years. There should be no difference.

He who has an ear, let him hear?

41.l. “Reflect on this past year”

Psalms 107:9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Isaiah 55:1-3   “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Jeremiah 31:25    For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Matthew 5:6     “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Luke 1:53    he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

Revelation 7:16-17 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

What fills your desires? What consumes your time? What defines the purpose of your life? What are you chasing after? Could it be that you are chasing after things in this world to fill the void and emptiness in your soul?

When we give thought to what drives us and satisfies our soul and fills us with purpose, it is eternally important that we identify that longing within us as spiritual and godly hunger. Billy Graham, often said that this longing for purpose is the ultimate intent of our creator. It is a void (space/emptiness) inside each of us. It’s that void that many people try to fill with wealth, possessions, sex, drugs, alcohol, sports, gambling, power, beauty, work, recognition, etc…… They search for their purpose or significance to fill this void by every possible means but do so in vain.

The problem is, things that seem right in our eyes and even the culture that we live in are the things that will never fill this void. Our natural intents are toward every conceivable idea that seems right and has been confirmed by all means possible by others who say this is how they found purpose and satisfaction in their lives. The problem is that all of these attempts mask it, cover it with brief moments of satisfaction but will always fall short of putting one drop of soul-satisfying nourishment into this void. The only way to satisfy it is with more of the same or trying something different, but in the end, they lead you right back to where you were, or worse. The world offers what it can never give. The problem is that these may be brought to us through temptations by Satan and we are easily tempted by them, or worse we are not even tempted, we just choose to close our minds to things of God. Satan does not need to tempt us at all. How sad is that?

God stands at the door of our hearts, knocking. He offers forgiveness of sin. He fills those who repent, believe, trust, follow, and obey His Word to come into them and give them living water and the bread of life, not only now but for eternity. He promises to fill them with the Holy Spirit. To those who keep their eyes and focus on Him with the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, he promises to fill this void with the fruits of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. To these, their longing for purpose and satisfaction has not only filled but it is overflowing continually. You may think this is not true and how can this satisfy the emptiness I am feeling deep within my soul? It is a promise of God. He never lies. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to redeem us. He gave us the written Word of God to encourage, convict, and lead us to the very point of exposing the void in our hearts with a purpose and satisfaction this world can never do. Intentionally choose to examine your heart in light of God’s Word and what satisfies it and gives your purpose. If you find an emptiness or void open the door to your heart and purpose to honor and glorify Jesus Christ anew with all you think, say, and do.

39.l. “Why should we die before your eyes?”

Genesis 47:13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.

Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph’s advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God’s providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God’s mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph’s character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants. (Henry)

In a national crisis, the power of the central government will increase. We certainly have seen this fruit being manifested. A seven-year famine will certainly be a national crisis and the power of the central government should increase. However, when a government unleashes a fear campaign and controls news and media narratives they are able to get the sheep to follow. If only it was fearful respect for God that would drive these sheep to follow after Him. Often fear is based on unknown outcomes with the threat of those outcomes impacting that person. Trusting in God and relying on His grace, mercy, and love will guard your heart against the fear that easily leads sheep to follow after worldly wisdom and action.

We all stand before God bankrupt. When we come to Him through Jesus Christ our debt is forgiven. Though you may have lived 10, 20, 30, or 60, years in famine to God’s grace, mercy, and, love, now is the time to humbly come before Him acknowledging your bankrupt soul and gain eternal life for your soul through belief, trust, and reliance on the blood of Jesus Christ to cover your debt.

39.c. “Unable to see blessings, fear became their resident”

Genesis 42:29 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’” As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” But he said, “My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”

Here is the report Jacob’s sons made to their father. It troubled the good man. Even the bundles of money Joseph returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him. He laid the fault upon his sons; knowing them, he feared they had provoked the Egyptians, and wrongfully brought home their money. Jacob plainly distrusted his sons, remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them. It is bad with a family, when children behave so ill that their parents know not how to trust them. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as in danger; and concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these things were for him, were working together for his good, and the good of his family. We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect. (Henry)

34.q. “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Malachi 3:1-2    “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.

John 2:14-17  In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.  And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.  And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”  His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Deuteronomy 14:24-26 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there,  then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses  and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

The part of the temple which he now visited, and which was profaned to secular use, was the court of the Gentiles, separated from the sanctuary by a stone partition, and considered of lesser sanctity, though really an integral part of the temple. In this large open space a market had been established, with the connivance, and much to the pecuniary emolument, of the priests. These let out the sacred area, of which they were the appointed guardians, to greedy and irreligious traders, who made a gain of others’ piety. (unknown)

Pilgrims came from all parts of the world to keep the Passover, to offer their sacrifices, sin-offerings, or thank-offerings, according to the circumstances of each case. They did not bring their live sacrifice with them. What plan, it might seem, could be more convenient than that they should find a market where they could buy them as near as possible to the place where the sacrifice was to be offered? One of the courts of the Temple was therefore assigned for the purpose, and probably the priests found their profit in the arrangement by charging a fee or rent of some kind for the privilege of holding stalls. The pilgrims brought with them the coinage of their own country—Syrian, Egyptian, Greek, as the case might be—and their money was either not current in Palestine, or, as being stamped with the symbols of heathen worship, could not be received into the Corban, or treasury of the Temple. For their convenience, therefore, money-changers were wanted, who, of course, made the usual profit, on each transaction. We must picture to ourselves, in addition to all the stir and bustle inseparable from such traffic, the wrangling and bitter words and reckless oaths which necessarily grew out of it with such a people. (Ellicott)

A harbour of wicked men; a place where traffic is carried on by persons of the most infamous character, who live by deceit and oppression, and practise the vilest extortion, even in the house of the most righteous and blessed God. (Benson)

If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils he would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practised under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer! (Henry)

The people coming to Jerusalem were coming to observe the “Passover” in remembrance of the 10th plague against the Egyptians, where God freed the Israelites from slavery over 1,500 years ago. This day was never to be forgotten. This day was to be remembered for all generations. It was a time to give thanks to God for what He did and to also perform sacrifices in line with forgiveness, obedience, and thanksgiving. Surely there were people, who, out of a pure heart to God, made long journeys for this observance. When they got there they were met with greed and extortion. God’s temple was not to be a place of this.

With the age of computer technology and social media, the Word of God is more than available to any who searches for it. I have seen this great availability occur in my lifetime. I remember when you would hear a preacher on the radio and send off a letter and wait to get the outline for the bible study. There wasn’t much chance you could hear a full message series. I am not sure when it happened, but happened it did. Soon, some of these preachers would offer these in book form for the price it cost to print. Fast forward to today. Now we can hear, or go to a website and listen to the whole message series. Never before have the Word of God and God-honoring messages been so accessible to people across the globe. There are many seeking souls who hunger for growth in God’s Word and its availability is beyond full understanding. Some preachers use this opportunity to reach the lost and feed believers with truth. Others, however, use it as a means for profit just like these money changers and animal sellers. They market God’s Word. You listen to a message, you sign up to get on a mailing list, and the next thing you know you are getting offers to buy the latest and greatest series on whatever, that will walk you through life problems, open your eyes to new truths, give you purpose in this life, make you more financially stable, how to handle difficult people, how to find peace, how to be more effective in your Christian walk, etc……….. for a price. They market and sell. There is little difference between what Jesus drove out of the Temple and what these people are doing. They have adopted the way of this world into a practice that is not honoring or glorifying to Jesus Christ. It is not that selling is wrong but the way in which it is being marketed and sold. God’s Word and messages of understanding and application should be made available and making this availability known is good. To market, it is not. To gain profit is not. To gain fame is not.

Over 50 years ago Dr. J. Vernon McGee, a great man of God, started a daily radio 5-year through the bible series. Just prior to his death 34 years ago he told his staff to continue with this broadcast until the money ran out. To this day it is still being broadcast. It was not by marketing and selling but through the Hand of God that it still exists on the air.

I often listen to him and many others on the radio. I have no doubt there are many pastors who have support staff who take care of the “business” side of their ministry where marketing and selling are being managed like a product to be sold. The next time you are listening to someone on the radio, listen for the marketing that usually comes just before the conclusion of the message or at the end. Do not allow yourself to think this is ok. It is not. Do things of God need to be marketed? Can He not fund these? Does He need earthly and worldly wisdom to figure out ways to fund broadcasts, books, podcasts, and publications? I fear too many have fallen into seeing this type of marketing and selling as it being ok. It is not. If it is God’s will then it is God’s bill. He will supply what is needed. It is not by gifted marketing strategies or flooding email accounts with pleas. It is by the will of God.

There could be many arguments made against my thoughts on this and all of them would have some merit, but at the end of the day incorporating worldly techniques to market and sell is just not right or good for the people of God.

31.j. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

2 Corinthians 11:3    But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Ephesians 4:18    They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Ephesians 5:8    for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Isaiah 5:20-21    Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!

Jeremiah 4:22   “For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”

Revelation 3:17   For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Either our eye is directed at heavenly things (and therefore full of light) or it is directed at earthly things (and therefore full of darkness). It is all about the intentional choices we make every day. What is the first thought that comes to mind when we wake up each morning? What is the last thought in our mind when we go to bed? What fills our thoughts throughout the day? Do we wake up with the thoughts of praise, worship, and rejoicing to and in Jesus Christ? Do we walk up ready and willing to be led by the Holy Spirit? Do we wake up with a desire that wants to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do? Do we awake in hunger and thirst for His Word? Are we desiring to see the day the Lord has made? I know answering these questions seems easier or harder than others days, but it is a learned and practiced discipline of our own choice(s). When our heart is divided between the cares of this world and those heavenly we are in darkness. It is in this darkness that nothing seems to make sense. Confusion, anger, hate, fear, conflict, and despair are their byproducts. How foolish does it sound to say; “I intentionally choose to think and live like this”? We choose to live in darkness, a place void of an intentional choice to honor, glorify, worship, and praise Jesus Christ. We sometimes think we can give lip service toward this goal but in fact, it is just words of our mouth and not from our heart and soul. We intentionally choose to be in darkness rather than humble surrender to and trust, faith, obedience, and reliance in Jesus Christ. This humble surrender to and trust, faith, obedience, and reliance on Jesus Christ. It is not a one-and-done decision from sometime in the past, it is an intentional way of life, moment by moment each and every day. Look around, read and listen to news outlets and other media sources and you will see and experience the life of darkness. They would have you believe this is how life is. It is not meant to be this way for the believer. No, our life should be filled with love, grace, mercy, kindness, peace, joy, and hope which can only be found in the light of Jesus Christ and humble surrender to and trust, faith, obedience, and reliance.

Intentionally choose to wake each morning with a desire and expectation (for every moment of that day) to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

30.s. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God”

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Psalms 42:1-2   As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

John 6:27    Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

Amos 8:11-13    “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Psalms 107:9    For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalms 4:6-7   You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Isaiah 55:1-3   “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

John 4:14     but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Isaiah 65:13    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame;

This describes a profound thirst and hunger that cannot be satisfied by a sip or snack. This is a longing that endures and is never completely satisfied on this side of eternity. This desire is real, natural, intense, can be painful, and is a driving force. We surely hunger for many things: power, authority, success, comfort, happiness – but do we hunger and thirst for righteousness? Having the right heart, mind, and soul desire(s) will affect what we thirst and hunger for. If it is more, power, ease of life, success, etc then there will be a hunger and thirst that is never satisfying. It may satisfy for a moment in time but loses its ability to satisfy the longing of the soul. The soul hungering and thirsting for righteousness, holiness, godliness, with a heart and soul-deep desire to humbly honor and glorify Jesus Christ, will be satisfied and nourished with living water and the bread of life – Jesus Christ. Though their hunger and thirst continue for knowledge and understanding of the love of God, their soul is satisfied in this pursuit all their days. True happiness and satisfaction for our souls will never come from what can be obtained in or from this world. It is only found in humble surrender, trust, reliance, and obedience in believing and following Jesus Christ. That is our hope, our rest, our refuge, our eternal joy. Hunger and thirst for things of God and you will be satisfied, blessed, and find a satisfying and lasting peace that passes all earthly understanding.

15.x. “This is the bread that comes down from heaven”

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:48-58 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Isaiah 55:1-3 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant

“I am the bread of life”, “whoever comes to me I will never cast out”, “I am the living bread”, Jesus is both living water and living bread. In other words He will satisfy Christ and hunger of the soul of all who come to Him. Spurgeon said, “ coming is a very simple action indeed; it seems to have only two things about it, one is, to come away from something, and the other is, to come to something.” What are we to come away from? Unbelief, worldliness, sinfulness, greed, pride, self-reliance, fear, worry, and self-satisfaction are all aspects of life we are to turn away from and repent of, and come to Jesus Christ. I guess I see that the coming part seems easy for some, it is the staying that is hard for them. They come but do not stay. It is as if they don’t like the taste of the Bread of Life and more. Be mindful that there are many things in our culture that will pull you away from being a humble servant, honoring, glorifying, following, worshiping, and obeying Jesus Christ. It does us well to keep a thirst and hunger for God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s leading in our life. Come and stay at the table and eat and drink God’s Word each day.

10.x. “But me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.”

Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Amos 9:10    All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

Jeremiah 7:8-12    “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.  Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?  Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.

2 Peter 2:1-3    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Ezekiel 22:12    In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Micah did not hold back any words calling out the sin of the people. Justice was a mockery, greed was everywhere, false things were called truth, and things that ought not to have been done were willingly condoned. The further the people got away from God the more they believed in deceptive words, false teachings, and capitalizing on their neighbor’s misfortune. They lost sight of God and their sinful ways. They became so accustomed to their sinful way of life it was normal and they still thought they were in God’s will. To convince themselves of this they proclaimed disaster will not find us or overtake us. And such is the way of many lost prodigal souls. They lost their love for God and His Word. They lost being able to discern what was right and wrong. This is still true today. When God’s Word is not hungered and thirsted for in our daily lives we too will fall away, believe false teachings, and use worldly wisdom and acceptance to convince ourselves that we are right with God. God’s Word is true and able to discern our thoughts and intents if we would but seek it to be active in our lives. His Word is living water and the bread of life. With it filling our souls we will not be led astray by worldly compromise or social norms. Be intentional with His Word every day. Seek it, taste, and see that it is good for your soul.

6.m. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;

Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 55:1-3    “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

John 6:37     All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

John 7:37     On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Revelation 22:17    The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Matthew 7:13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

“a door standing open in heaven!” Do you ever give thought to what it means to have the door open and an invitation to come? The invitation is to come through the door. The one giving the invitation is Jesus Christ. The Son of God opens the door to forgiveness of sin, faith, hope, joy, healing, peace, rest, love, heaven, and eternity. He may reach out and get your attention, tap you on your shoulder, whisper into your conscience, or with the sound of a trumpet, but He will not pull you through the door. He gives the invitation to come and He is holding the door open for you to come in. When He says come, it is with the same open invitation like follow Me, listen to Me, obey Me, trust in Me, love Me, have faith in Me. None of these will be forced upon anyone. These invitations are offers from Jesus Christ the Son of God and require a willing humble desire. Do you ever wonder if we take His invitations serious? Imagine getting an invitation from a celebrity and know they are waiting at the door, with it open and waiting for you. Would you go? Would you tell others? Would you be excited? Would you be happy to see this celebrity waiting at the door for you? What value does this celebrity offer should you willing to accept their offer to come?

The truth is they can offer worldly things but nothing that will last for eternity. They can offer no forgiveness of sin, faith, hope, joy, healing, peace, rest, love, heaven, and eternity. And yet, we seem to think this is a very big deal should we receive their invitation, when in fact, we should be willingly, excitedly, humbly, and with reverence accepting the invitations from the Son of God.