Eat What Is Good

 

December 1

 

Read Isaiah 55:1-2

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, 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.”

 

Reflect

How do we apply the precept of “eating what is good” to our spiritual lives?

 

My kids love candy. In fact, when they come home from school, the first thing they want to do is dig into their stash from trick or treating. But they come back asking for a real snack within minutes. “I’m still hungry!” they cry. Unfortunately, the candy doesn’t satisfy them for long. The candy is delicious, and it seems like a good choice in the moment. But it doesn’t offer any long term fulfillment and has no nutritional value. Candy is just empty calories.

 

Many people are filling up on candy in their spiritual lives only to find that it does not satisfy. They admit to feeling empty inside and look to worldly things to fill the void. Success, fame, image, social media, binge-watching TV, alcohol, drugs, illicit relationships...No matter what they try, the hunger remains.

 

We cannot fill up on the candy of this world and expect it to satisfy us long term. If we are hungry or thirsty deep in our souls, God gave us the solution through the prophet Isaiah. He said to “Come,” and He said to “eat what is good.” He also said that it is free. What is this good food that you can get for free? The bread of life. In John 6:35, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

 

You do not have to go through your life, feeling empty in your soul. You do not have to feel spiritually stuck. The invitation is open to everyone, and it is free. Come! Go to Jesus, spend time in the Word daily, seek Him through prayer, and as you do, you will find yourself filling up your soul with that which can satisfy.

 

Pray

Jesus, I know that I sometimes look to the empty things of this world to satisfy the longings of my heart. But it is futile. Only You can satisfy. Fill me up with your “good food” today, Lord. It is You I am hungry and thirsty for. Amen.