ISAIAH 55:1

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.

TO PONDER

Many people at LifeWay Newcastle know that my doctor has put me on what is called a 'very low calorie meal replacement diet'. All this to improve the health and function of my liver. Don't panic, there is nothing seriously wrong it's more an attempt to prevent any possible future issues. But while the desired results seem to be evident, one inevitable side effect is hunger. I have to confess that while I have been doing this routine, I have come to know hunger in a different kind of way.

The meal replacement shakes that form the main nutritional source of my diet provide all the nutients and trace elements that a healthy body needs, they even stave off hunger for a time but they simply do not satisfy the way a home cooked roast dinner does. To be honest, some days I'd be over the moon to simply indulge in a slice of artisan bread with a bit of cheese.

The reality is that all of us experience hunger, it might not always be for food, but all of us have desires for certain things - cravings that we seek to satisfy in different ways. The big issue with most of these 'things' is twofold. Firstly, they come with a cost. Not many of us can grow all of our own food in our tiny suburban backyards or apartment block patios and even if we could there would be the cost of time invested in watering, weeding and protecting said produce from insects and disease. The second problem is that those things also never really satisfy. They fade over time or they disappoint us - similar to the way a meal replacement shake might stop the hunger but doesn't really satisfy.

Jesus solves both those problems. Firstly what Jesus offers us is not without cost. It cost Jesus his life in order to be able to offer us new life through him. The good news for us is that the cost has been paid, in full, by Jesus himself. Now we all can come freely and receive life from him. Secondly, the living water and food that Jesus offers us is eternal and is not only without cost to us, but also without end. it does not disappoint or miss the mark, it fills and satisfies completely.

This week our theme has been "Where is Jesus at the party?" I hope that we have discovered that Jesus is busy inviting and hosting all of us with the kind of joy and life that only he can offer. Why not accept his invitation and join him at his banquet table.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that your life, death, and resurrection have paid the entire cost of my invitation to join you at your banquet table. Please help me to faithfully spread and share that invitation with all those who still don't know that you have also prepared a place for them. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle