1/8/12 - The Word Does Not Return Void

Isaiah 55:1-11

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread,
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
As I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of nations,
so shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and nations that knew you not shall run to you,
because of the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
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There are several options listed for readings today, and this is one of them. There's a lot of meat here, but I'm going to focus on the last paragraph shown above. The Word of God does not return void. God sent us his Word in the person of Jesus Christ -- who did not return void, but achieved the Lord's will.

Guess what? We have that living inside us! The living Lord Himself, who's ways are far above ours, and thoughts are far above ours. He who does not return void, and He who achieves the Lord's will. He is EVERYTHING that we need to rise above the life in the flesh. He is the water. He is the wine and milk. He is the rich fare that we can eat, and have life.

O Lord Jesus, help me to forsake my way and my thoughts, and turn to you for mercy!