40 Day Journey with Our Neighbors in Solidarity
Week 3: First Lutheran African Ministry, Sioux Falls
Written By: Abraham Gayetaye
Isaiah 55:1 – 9
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Lent gives us an opened heaven to see the Lord like the woman at the “well.” The conversation between the two led to an offer of satisfaction for thirsty souls. “Water,” being a refreshing element, was the center of their dialogue and subsequently created the forum to deliver the promise. It is a refreshing agent for weary souls. The Lord steps up to make an offer with a “promise” to whoever drinks the water. Similarly, Isaiah made an invitation with a plea to God’s people to come and fearlessly receive the true fountain of life. Isaiah emphasizes far beyond human comprehension that this “fountain” is priceless and available to all whom the Lord addressed as “whoever.” This offer then and now crosses our today’s racial boundary, sexism, class or the status quo. I know the price tag of purified or bottled water is sky-rocketing in grocery stores across the nation. This priced commodity was made priceless to undo hindrances in response. So grace is just priceless. In this Lenten period we are to celebrate the promise as the work of the cross.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven , through the act of grace, and your mercy, give us hearing ears so that whenever the promise is delivered we’ll hear and receive it. Help us be the church you want us to be to the glory of Christ’s name. Amen.
Act:
Would you consider partnering with us to support the gospel work by making gifts to the ministry of Neighbors in Solidarity under the SD Synod today.
