46 REAL SATISFACTION F O O T ================================

• H O L D

READING

46 REAL SATISFACTION

PRAY Feed me through your word today, gracious Lord.

READ Isaiah 55:1-13.

THINK To whom is the invitation of verses 1 to 3 given? What is offered?

FOCUS INVITATION (1-3). Note the pleading, the reputation and the colourful, vivid illustrations. Our God longs that people will take that which satisfies. COVENANT (3-5). God promised to make ‘a lasting covenant’ (3) with his people, just as he had made a covenant with David many years earlier (See 2 Samuel 7:11-16). REPENTANCE (6,7). This is a good old-fashioned word meaning a change of mind and of direction. The people were not only to seek God, they were also to give up any sinful ways and intentions. ASSURANCE (8,9). God is great. His thoughts are infinitely greater than ours and therefore he has prepared for his people things that surpass our understanding. PROMISE (10,11). Notice how definite these verses are. Read them again. Believe them, rest upon these words as an accomplished fact today. But if we want to see this in our own experience we will have to do something first. What (See 2 Timothy 4:2)? PROPHESY (12,13). Picture the scene. Crowds of people full of joy, often the mark of God’s presence (Acts 8:8) and yet a deep, abiding peace (John 14:27) and creation, too, joins in the celebration (Romans 8:21). —————————————————————-

PRAY Give thanks to God for his promises. (Itemise some)