GOD’S INVITATION TO THE THIRSTY!

³ Give ear and come to me; listen, that you 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 ruler and commander of the peoples. ⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running 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 their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, 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. (NIV)

Dear fellow brothers and sisters,

Greetings in the name of Jesus-Christ! Thanks are to the Lord for this opportunity to share this sermon with you. The today’s theme is: “GOD’S INVITATION TO THE THIRSTY." We will focus on verse one and two of the chapter we just read: “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. 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 you will delight in the richest of fare.”

This chapter begins with the voice of God calling on everyone to receive salvation. This invitation is not exclusive; it belongs to everyone, regardless of his or her origin, ethnicity, race, family background, language, color; etc. However, even though this invitation is for everyone, participation is not mandatory. Participants are those who feel hungry and thirsty. The invitees are those who feel that food and drink of this world have never been adequate, so they need to eat bread that satisfies hunger and drink the water of life. Indeed, “everyone who drinks the ordinary water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water Jesus gives will never thirst. Indeed, the water Jesus gives them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Are you not hungry and thirsty? Jesus invites you to his table to eat and drink without paying money or any other price.

Jesus has food for you and three types of drinks: water, wine, and milk. Without water we would not exist. The Lord used water to show the value of His word to all people. Like drinking water, the gospel restores our spiritual life. Concerning wine, it is often used for festive occasions (Ps. 104: 15). By inviting his people to come and drink wine, the Lord called them to receive a joy that could not be found anywhere else. (Deut. 16:15; Ps. 19: 9; Prov. 10:22)

Milk strengthens bones and helps children grow better. In the same way, God's Word strengthens us spiritually and strengthens our relationship with God. Therefore, the child of God should crave the milk of the Word of God just as a baby craves its mother's milk! Peter wrote, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”(1 Pet. 2: 2) Indeed, if you are a Christian who does not regularly study the Word of God, there is something wrong with you. It is a matter of great concern that some Christians like to only enjoy the entertainment at the church, without focusing on the Word of God. People no longer want to go deep into the Word of God-but rather enjoy reading or listening to a one-line message. This is why many Christians are always like newborns-they do not have a spiritual life-because they do not drink unadulterated spiritual milk. When a child is not well nourished, he or she won’t grow! We should fast for real food and drink, instead of wasting time on useless things.

Today, many people (even Christians) invest their wealth and time in things that do not nourish the soul. They give their money for what is not bread. It is dangerous to pay the price for a load full of dust that will never satisfy your heart and soul. Obedience to the Lord alone is the key to our joy and spiritual well-being. You may own all the wealth of the entire world and not be satisfied with your status. Accept Jesus' invitation! He has food and drinks for you without any cost. Not “at a good price” but for free! This invitation is urgent! That is why Jesus cries out: “Oh, oh, oh, come, all you who are thirsty! And so it is, “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ” (Heb. 12:25)

I conclude by thanking you for taking the time to read this message. You can share it with others. May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be amongst us and remain with us forever. Amen.

Arch. SEHORANA Joseph