Living in God's Abundance

~~~ Isaiah 58: 9b-14 ~~~ Psalm 86 ~~~ Luke 5: 27:32 ~~~

The Lord is continuing to speak to us through the prophet Isaiah. The Lord says, okay now that you have taken off the sunglasses...put them away...leave them off, because I have more in store for you.

God says if you follow my ways I will bless you with such abundance you will be astounded. Your life will be drastically changed,

if you keep your eyes focused on my way.

If we keep our eyes focused on doing what God wants in our life we can share in this same abundance. In his presence the light of God will guide us and this same light coming forth from the sun will bring abundance to the land. The Lord is our light and our salvation, we know that now, but those listening to the prophet did not have the full spectrum of the divine light.

God in his wisdom appealed to what they were familiar with...the things they would want to see changed. He speaks about a plentiful supply of water with beautiful gardens. They were in the desert; water was a scarce commodity. Today it is hard for us to believe it, but water is in short supply in many areas of the world.

God will provide for those who follow him. When you do not have access to water it would be much more challenging to believe the message of a caring God. Globally, 1.2 million people live in areas today wiht inadequate water supply.

Just this past summer we got a little taste of what it would mean to have a serious shortage of water. The promise of water got everyone's attention. It meant not only beautiful gardens but more food and less disease. They could bathe, a luxury when you are on a desert hike for years and years.

God wants us to thirst for him. If you do not know what you are missing you will not long for it? If you do not know there is an alternative how can you reach for it? God is saying, I am the alternative, this is what you have been missing. God is the missing link. The psalmist says 'teach me your ways Lord.' We need to be taught about the better way. The way God wants us live.

Jesus calls the tax collector, Matthew, and says come with me; there is a better way. I will teach you how to live abundantly. I will show the meaning of true wealth without collecting people's wages.

This image reflects God's promise of the abundance of water.

This photo is of the POP Sanctuary during Lent 2010.

Following the way of God leads us to the path of abundance.

An abundance that can only come from God.

With each glass of water you drink,

let that be a reminder of God's generous presence in your life.