“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.“
Isaiah 55:1-2
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December 29, 2025
Merry Christmas! Around the world, Christians are celebrating a twelve-day feast: the Twelve Days of Christmas. After the Advent weeks of waiting and watching, now, finally we celebrate the incarnation. God is here with us!
Today, December 29th, is the fifth day of feasting and celebration (five golden rings! as the song says).
In this week’s passage, God invites Israel to a feast. Who is God hoping to see around His table? The thirsty, the poor, especially those so poor they do not have money to buy their own food. God does not want His guests to spend their money or work for what they will receive at the table, but instead to delight in the richest fare, to drink rich wine and creamy milk.
This message is counter-cultural to the invitations we have been bombarded with over the past few weeks (or decades). We’ve been hearing again and again that those with money and resources are invited. Invited to buy, buy, buy! To purchase more and more things that we are told we must have, to labor on tasks we are told we must do.
But God’s declaration here is proved true: none of it will satisfy. We are left bloated, exhausted, and testy.
Friends, God is offering a different kind of feast. It is the most vulnerable, the least able to purchase who are called in first—but we are all invited. We simply must put down all that has not satisfied and come empty-handed to the table. We must open our eyes and ears to God and listen.
He will feed us. We will delight in the richest of fare.
Will you come?
Special Message:
For the past 11 years, Catherine McNeil has been the editor of our Wheaton Bible Devotions. She has edited, written, planned, and worked with a variety of writers to bring us beautiful words inspired by Scripture. This role is not easy, but God has used her as a writer to minister to our congregation. You can find her four books on Amazon, and each one has led me to growth in my walk with Christ. Personally, Catherine has encouraged, spoken wise words, and been a smiling face to sit with. She is finishing up her education and taking on new roles at this time, and will have to step away from her role here. We will miss Catherine and thank her for her ministry these past 11 years.
Due to staff transitions, we will change our devotions starting in 2026. We encourage everyone to follow our church’s Bible reading plan, and since you are currently subscribed, we will send an online devotional associated with that plan to your inbox. Stay in the Word and keep growing in your faith.
- Pastor Phil Shields
Church Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 34; Revelation 20
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- In what ways is the invitational message of Isaiah 55 the opposite of the invitation you have been hearing and living in the past few weeks?
- In what ways are you hungry, thirsty, tired?
- What do you think God may be offering?