Why is free food so tasty? Those samples passed out by a food truck advertising Oreos or whatever make me want even more complimentary goodies. Buy some? Maybe not. But more freebies, please! Let me meander the aisles of Costco, munching away on an endless variety of on-the-house edibles.

Reading Isaiah 55, a cloud of conviction hovers overhead. ‘Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good…’ (Is. 55: 1-2).

The Lord invites us to a feast consisting of what’s precious and pricey–water, milk, and wine. None of them were abundant in Bible times. Scarcity led to costliness. But in this Bible passage, the Lord invites us to share in the best of life, all for free. Can you imagine?

You’d think I’d spend more time, money, and energy on the good things of God, wouldn’t you? Never leaving His table of abundant blessings. Staying as close to Jesus as I can. Placing my feet firmly in His camp, refusing to be nudged or shoved off-center. You’d think.

But, sad to say, well, you know, I’ve been lax with the Lord. Wasting more time than I’d care to admit to. And He knows that I’ve been silent when I could have spoken up. Opened my big mouth when I should have been respectfully quiet. Mean-spirited when love was called for. Greedy in the face of someone else’s need which I could have helped with. Happy as a clam when somebody I didn’t like falters and suffers. He knows.

So, I need God’s water. Jesus’ milk and wine. Instead of imagining that I can earn any of that by my own efforts, I should stop wasting time, humbly fall at His feet, open my hands to Him, and let the Lord fill me with Himself. Don’t think for a moment that money or ritual will get you one extra tidbit from Him. No. Just faith in Jesus. A genuinely seeking and repentant heart. A trusting and believing soul.

Then get ready to be blessed galore, which is much better than free food and drink despite what most people think. Sometimes even me.

Thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings you freely give me every moment of every day. Amen.

I remember hearing an evangelist/Bible speaker admit that he had no idea what the book of Ezekiel was about and even wondered why God included it in the Bible. This prophetic book is one of the biggies of the Old Testament. And it’s dissed by someone who should have known better? Couldn’t believe my ears when he spouted off against good old Ezekiel.

For I’m intrigued by this book. The more I read it, the more I love it. How about you? Have you read it? Just a cursory glance or two? Then get out your water wings, we’re going for a swim (and I can’t swim!).

After many chapters in Ezekiel about the coming judgment, I’m stopped by three verses at the end of chapter 18. This section centers on the fair treatment of those who sin. This is not passing judgment as if it is inherited from father to son or son to father, but being judged only by what that particular individual does against God’s will.

I easily get bogged down with what I deserve from the Lord. Guilt hovers not far away after I’ve thumbed my nose at God. You see, I try to fool Him. Put one over on the Big Guy. Really? Are you sure? Actually, the wool is pulled over my eyes. Can’t ever hoodwink or dupe our Lord.

But you know what? Despite my playing games with God, He’s always there to comfort, forgive, hear my confessions, and note my tears. When exactly does this happen? When we come back to Him. Those times when we’re honestly sorry.

Hear Ezekiel 18–‘Therefore I will judge you…every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live’ (vs.30-32).

Such passionate words from God’s heart to ours. He yearns for everyone to come back to Him. To be forgiven. Therefore, given a new heart and spirit from God Himself. Why not reach out to Him? To ask Him into your life? What have you got to lose? Really a lot I’m sure you’d like to get rid of!

I can imagine some evangelist preaching these verses. Hey, I just did! How about asking the Lord Jesus into your heart? He’s the hope that will never let you down. Never.

Lord Jesus, I want to be yours forever. I believe in you. Amen.

Today’s title is not referring to when I’m strapped into my dentist’s chair. With my mouth hanging wide open, this masked man, who holds a terrifying drill aimed at my sensitive teeth, seeks to prod, poke, puncture, and perforate my dental troubles. No, that’s not what I mean.

Rather, it’s when you feel somewhat blah and blue, down in the proverbial dumps. When life throws a curveball, and you feel like you’ve struck out more than Babe Ruth, know that such is life on this other side of Eden. It’s the human condition, starting with Adam and Eve and everyone else ever since.

After all, we live on a globe where sin permeates everything. A fallen world will trip us up rather easily, making us prone to feeling a tad down in the mouth. I fall into that trap, feeling sorry for myself. Overly sensitive to other’s unsavory comments, yet I’m possibly less so to others’ feelings as I, clueless, slice and dice with my razor-sharp humor.

But the Lord has good medicine for us. Where? Of course, in your Bible. For today not in the Psalms, the Gospels, or some very familiar verse, but tucked away in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah.

So, grab your Bible and turn to Isaiah 43: 4–‘Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…’ Only a few words–‘precious…honored…loved.’ That should lift your day, shouldn’t it? Did mine.

Better than winning the lottery? Most wouldn’t think so. But, oy vey, what I’ve heard about the fate of unlucky-in-life lottery winners. Usually not good but, of course, I’d be different. I could handle all the begging from friends, family, and strangers. You think so, Fischer? Hmm. Maybe not. But you’ll never know since I’ve never bought one measly sweepstake lotto ticket with no intention of starting any time soon.

So hear God’s Word. He means what He says. Every jot and tittle. Chew on and digest each word and thought. It comes from Our Lord God to you and me. When downtimes hit, and they will, why not hit back with Isaiah 43: 4–‘Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…’ Again–precious…honored…loved.’

Get it? Then use it as a weapon, fighting back those inevitable blahs and blues. Keep repeating it until it sinks in. Try it on for size. You look great! You’ll like being precious and honored and loved. I do!

Thank you, Lord, for how good you are to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Old Testament book of Ezekiel contains strange images, displaying disturbing, peculiar, and puzzling prophetic utterances from the Lord. Many people recoil at having anything to do with Ezekiel’s book. Not me. It’s in my Bible, for a reason, and I’m up for whatever weird and spooky images God chooses to convey His message. Bring it on, Lord!

If you’ve read Ezekiel 5, you know what I’m talking about. Our prophet is told to cut off the hair on his head along with all of his beard. In those days, religious types are supposed to grow their hair long (Lev. 21:5). Then Ezekial is told to weigh and divide the shaven follicles. Take one-third and burn them. Then he’s to scatter the next third around the city, striking those hairy bits with a sword. Hope he has a steady hand! Finally, the remaining locks and curls should be tossed to the wind.

What gives? I scratch my head until I realize that these are symbolic acts, signifying God’s judgment on His rebellious and unrepentant people, which should produce terror in their hearts and minds as it would in mine. Hope disappears. All lost. Cut and shaved. Tossed aloft into the sirocco-like winds. Doomsday is just around the corner.

Please don’t skip over a rather short verse in Chapter 5. As in this one–‘And you shall take from these a small number and bind them in the skirts of your robe’ (Ez. 5: 3). I’m not sure that we all get the point of this verse. I had to do some digging myself. Here’s what I found–Ezekiel is told to hide some of those shaved-off clippings in the folds of his outer garment, his robe. Kept safe from fire, sword, and wind. Tucked in. Safe and secure from all alarms.

Even when all hell seems to break loose, God takes care of His own. Either in this life or surely in the next. Folded, gathered, and pleated. Stored and securely stashed away. These are God’s remnant people, who count on Him alone for their help and care. They find themselves safe in His back pocket, so to speak.

My father kept a 1922 US silver dollar in his wallet in his back pocket (when those large dollar coins mainly contained silver). He said it reminded him to keep some extra money aside for an emergency. He was a good saver. And he urged me to do the same. This is one of the lessons I learned from my Dad. To tuck something away for unexpected troubles.

In a similar vein, the Lord Jesus makes sure that His own are shielded and guarded. Kept in His back pocket. Even more precious than silver and gold. Close by. Within reach. Only a hop, skip, and a jump away. Always on His mind. Embedded with His kindness and care.

This week, when you feel scared or all alone, remember that He keeps you in His neighborhood. He wants to reassure you that all will be well in the folds of His robes, protected from harm, sheltered in His love.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my Good Shepherd. Amen.