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Advent Devotional for Friday, December 17
Banquets are wonderful events, especially if you have been invited. The owner of the banquet has many challenges, among them planning where to host the event, how much to spend, who to invite. Those invited also have challenges of preparation: buying gifts; making transportation plans; maybe buying expensive clothes.
Isaiah invites the Israelites to a banquet where the invitees will spend nothing. Everything is free. In other words, God invites the Israelites who are thirsty and hungry to come and receive the blessings that money cannot offer. The rich and poor, God invites them all. This blessing is the kingdom of God.
As some say “water is life,” Isaiah takes water to mean salvation, or life after exile. It is not partial salvation but a complete one. The proper response, says Isaiah, is to turn (repent) and receive. We learn to appreciate God’s grace through repentance, although only by God’s grace do we participate in the kingdom.
The fulfillment of deliverance from exile is accomplished by the coming of Christ and is for all. The free offer of the gospel extends to all who hear the word of salvation. We cannot fully understand God’s gracious invitation because we think some are entitled while others are not. What of those who struggle in prisons? What of leaders who do not allow Christianity in their country? God invites even them to this banquet. In fact, this salvation is for the whole of creation — even the mountains and hills, says Isaiah, show the realization of new life.
In short, God’s invitation to the banquet is free and for all. This is the love and the grace of God shown to us in God’s Son. Christ’s coming is to all, and all are invited. Come and let us together celebrate, to welcome Christ and accept him as our savior.
Gracious God, glory and honor we give you because you are a loving and wonderful God. We thank you because the salvation you give is free, and not restricted to a specific group, because Christ broke such barriers. Help us accept your invitation so that we may be servants to you. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Chizason Chunda (MATS’09)
Moderator-elect, CCAP Synod, Lusaka, Zambia
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.
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