“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.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.“
Isaiah 55:1-3
–
December 30, 2025
In the opening structure of Isaiah 55, commentators see a parallel to a particular kind of invitation: a funeral feast. But this is not any kind of feast or any kind of invitation. In this ritual, it is the dead who were invited to come.
No wonder they were poor, unable to buy or work for their own food and drink!
Isaiah is writing this prophetic word to a nation in exile. Collectively, they are dead. Their legacy and life have been taken, they are without access to their own selves, to their community, to thriving and flourishing.
But God is not heaving a sigh, dropping a flower on the grave, and leaving a condolence card. No, He is inviting them to come alive—and feast. The table has been laid. If they come they will find that it is life they are being invited to receive. Abundant life.
This exile is not the end for them, after all. There will be new life. These dry bones will live (Ezekiel 37).
Centuries later, another prophet of Israel will write how God loved His people while they were dead in their sins—then made them alive.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:1, 4-7)
Friends, this is who God has always been. This is what God has always been doing: calling His creation back to life.
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 35; Revelation 21
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Where do you see death around you, in your life, in your community?
- How do you see God calling you back to the table, back to life?
- Where else in the Bible (or in your life history) do you see God always and ever creating?