3. Isaiah 55:1-3, 8-12 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! 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. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live ...”

4. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace …”

6. A Prime Example

8. We ought to listen for God’s voice – for His word to us – because, through it, we find life.

9. The word of God is not solely received to help on live “someday”; no, the word of God gives us life in the here and now.
Can anyone tell me what Jesus’ first words to Peter were?
“Come, follow me … and I will make you fishers of men”. (Mark 1:17)
Are you aware of Jesus’ last words to Peter?
“Feed my sheep … follow me!” (John 21:18-19).
We need to constantly receive the words of God that bring life so that we might experience life to the full.

10. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”. (Proverbs 18:21)

11. Be mindful of what your words convey to others and evaluate whether they speak of life or death to those with whom you interact?
At least once this week, intentionally speak words of life into a circumstance where you might be apt to speak words of death.

12. My prayer for us is that we are individually and corporately made more receptive to the word of God in our lives, that we might not only experience life to the full, but that we might also extend this life into the dead and decaying world around us.