“Ho, everyone that thirsts:  Come to the waters and he that has no money; come, buy and eat.  Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread?  And your labor for that which satisfies not?  Hearken diligently unto Me and eat that which is good and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  Incline your ear and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live—and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

                              Isaiah 55:1-3

     The invitation is simple: “Come;” The cost of admission is free. The benefits of accepting:  Eternal.

     Who’s invited to this gathering of those who are “thirsty, penniless and have been searching in vain for all the wrong things in all the wrong places”?

     “Whosoever will” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).

     Yes, come as you are—each one who is “hungry and thirsty”—and “you shall be filled” (Mt. 5:6).  None will be turned away who come, admitting their only hope of entrance is the Master’s Invitation signed in Blood-Red.  And, none will leave His Banquet Table hungry or thirsty.

     While it’s true it’s a “Come as you are” Banquet, the fact remains you cannot enter in unless you leave where you are and draw near to the One Who has invited you (James 4:7-8).

     Although He’s been looking for you all your life, He will not force you to come inside His Banquet Hall and partake of all He has prepared.

     No, the ball’s in your court.

     The question is, “How hungry and how thirsty are you?”

     Or, maybe, the better question is “How desperate are you?”

     Are you tired of always coming up empty and the vain promises of men?

     Come.

     Is your heart filled with sorrow?  Have grief and guilt overtaken you and now hold you hostage?

     Come.

     Have you “grown weary in well-doing and fainter in mind as you ‘see the Day approaching’ (Heb. 10:25)?”

     Come.  Come now.  Come quickly.

     “Incline your ear and hear”—I’m listening.  “Come unto Me and you shall live”—you have My Word on it.

     But you must come. . .of your own free will and accord. . .wanting nothing that I have to offer  . . .but only wanting Me.  Just Me.

     Come.

 
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated March 3, 2010