Daily Devotions
New devotions are posted Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Sustenance
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Debbie Jorgens.
Text: Isaiah 55:1-13
My ears perked up the other day when I heard about the simple act of compassion shown by Ann Aiken, U.S. District Court Judge in Oregon, after a 22-year-old woman in immigration custody had taken the witness stand and mentioned that she was hungry. She hadn’t had anything to eat after being awakened at 2 a.m. for the drive from a detention center in Tacoma, Washington to the federal courthouse in Eugene. “That’s unacceptable,” Judge Aiken said. She immediately stopped the hearing and told ICE officers she would not continue until the woman had been fed, even offering up her own lunch. I was heartened by the judge’s actions. At the same time, I couldn’t help but think of all those across the country (and beyond our borders) who are treated with such cruelty that even their basic needs are denied. No wonder this story garnered national attention.
It’s interesting to note that the very first words of Isaiah 55 speak to the most fundamental of all human needs: sustenance for our bodies.
Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters;
and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
In his commentary on Isaiah 55, theologian Christopher B. Hays provides some helpful context:
The opening verses, with their appeal to those who do not have money to buy bread and the basic needs of life, would probably have been quite relevant to the exiles who returned to the land of Judah. It was not a prosperous time. Jerusalem had not been rebuilt since its destruction by the Babylonians fifty years earlier, social and economic structures were weak, and there were struggles for the most desirable land between those returning and those who had been on the land in the meantime….The invitation to eat and drink without paying would have been both gracious and exceedingly welcome.
Scholars argue as to whether we should read the opening words of Isaiah 55 as primarily spiritual realities or material realities. But we know that as human beings, our basic physiological needs must be met first and foremost. After all, it’s difficult to function, let alone flourish, until our thirst has been quenched and our hunger satisfied. So the people are invited to come to drink and to eat! And not only that; Isaiah emphasizes that the water and food are available for everyone, no questions asked, no payment required! Such is God’s abundant grace!
May God fill our hearts with compassion and show us the way to ensure that all people have access to clean water and nourishing food so they can flourish, as God intends for all of creation.
Previously…
The Compassion of Jesus
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Rev. Steve Sveom. Luke 7:1-17 Luke tells the story of a centurion who demonstrates faith and Jesus who heals and restores the dead son of a grieving mother. The power of illness and death is powerful. The compassion of Jesus...
Faith Beyond Boundaries
Faith is often found in unexpected places. This Sunday, we’ll read from Luke about a Roman centurion—an outsider—who demonstrates remarkable trust in Jesus’ authority. Without demanding proof, he believes that Jesus’ word alone is enough to heal his servant. Jesus is astonished, declaring that this man’s faith surpasses that of Israel. Then, in an act of compassion, Jesus raises a widow’s son, restoring her future along with her child. Both stories remind us that God’s grace moves beyond human boundaries, rewriting stories of exclusion into belonging.
Compassion not Perfection
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Steve Sveom. Luke 6:1-16 This reading from Luke reveals a controversy between Jesus and some religious authorities. There was a rabbinic saying: “If Israel would keep only two Sabbaths as perfectly as they should be...
Call and Response
As I shared yesterday, Jesus called the twelve not because they were perfect, powerful, or privileged, but because they were willing to follow. In Luke 6, we see how Jesus redefines belonging—not by status, but by purpose. As followers of Jesus today, we are also chosen, not for our own sake, but to participate in God’s mission of love and justice. Here are five ways we can respond to God’s call…