DECEMBER 24, 2025 – ADVENT: COME TO ME

READ: Isa. 55:1–13: … Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat … Hear, and your soul shall live … Seek the Lord while He may be found … Indeed I have given Him as a witness to the people … commander … For He will abundantly pardon … So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts … So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void …

Isaiah calls the people on behalf of the LORD to accept the gospel of free grace. The people are thirsty—they need this gospel to live. There is no alternative. But do they all realize it? What the LORD can give is the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. people themselves do not have to contribute anything for this; it is free. Human effort is useless (v.2). But they must come to the LORD—it requires faith.

He desires to make with them an everlasting covenant of grace based on the sure promises made to David concerning the coming of his great Son, the Servant of the LORD (v.3; 2 Sam. 7:8–16). The LORD gives Him—the Christ, the seed of David—for redemption.

He is the faithful Witness to the nations (Jn. 18:37; Rev.3:5), and the Prince of the kings of the earth (Dan. 9:25; Acts 3:15; Heb. 2:10; Rev.1:5).

In verse 5 Christ is called not only to His own people but also to other nations that have not known Him—through the proclamation of the gospel. For the sake of God the Father, who sent and glorified Him (v.5; Jn. 17:1, 5; Phil. 2:9 ff.). Because of this glorious prospect, Isaiah calls everyone to seek the LORD and call upon Him.

Now is the time of grace (v.6; 2 Cor. 6:2)! This concerns the whole world. Repentance from sin is necessary (v.7; Jn. 3:2). Then the LORD will forgive, and the way to Christ and His eternal kingdom of peace will be opened (vv.7–13)—a miracle of grace surpassing all human thought.

God’s ways are higher than ours. It is the divine power of God’s Word that accomplishes what He intends. Reason for joy and rejoicing!

How does the power of the Word work in us?
Sing: Ps. 149:3