Advent Lutheran Church

"My Ways are Higher than Your Ways..."

Selam.  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Whenever you travel to a new country, depending on who you are listening to, you will be advised to be aware of some good and bad things about the place you are traveling.

As my wife and I were preparing to move to the United States, we heard and read so many kinds of information. We have been told by many people to be aware of commercials that are entitled  “free”. The same people told us that nothing is free.

I have to be honest and tell you that there have been times that we have been trapped by those  “free” titled commercials. The idea that “there is nothing free,” is not only true for America. It is a universal truth.  The limit, of “free-” access to peoples need, depends on our political, social and economical philosophy.

I believe we all agree that there is no nation in the world that feeds its people without charging them. It has been a long time in our human history since we made food a commodity.  Millions are starved in the world every year. It is not because of a scarcity of food. It is not always a lack of a rain or better agricultural equipments. It is because we decided to make food a commodity. Therefore, those who can afford buy and feed themselves and those who cannot, will die.

In May 2001 I was invited to preach on an opening ceremony of a new water well dug and built through the help of nonprofit organization. The village was 20 miles outside of Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia. As the first water was pumped and people began to drink, there was one woman who was crying. I thought it was a tear of joy. But I was wrong. During our conversation, I asked her why she was crying all that long. This what she said. “I wish if my son had seen this day. My son died at the age of two because of water borne diseases. We used to use the water from the river that was polluted.”

According to some statistics, 4000 children die every day because of lack of unclean water.   Why?  Because, water is a commodity. It is available for those who can afford it.

Our text from Isaiah challenges us with new thoughts - probably thoughts that we all may not like.  There is an invitation for all who are thirsty and hungry.  God is inviting us to a new way in which we had ever walked. To new thoughts that we have never thought.

God honestly shares with us that the new way and the new thought are higher than our ways and thoughts. God did not say, “my ways and my thoughts are different than yours.”  God is saying that they are higher than yours. God’s way is not one of the many ways, or thoughts. It is the highest thought. The opposite of a high is low. That is why heaven and earth are used as an illustration. God is saying, “Your idea is from the earth. Your thoughts are reflections of where you are living.  My thoughts are from heaven.”  In simple terms, God is saying my ways are better than yours are.

Therefore : God is inviting us to come and listen to him. 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.

God is inviting the people to the higher way and thoughts. The invitation is for all. The invitation requires coming, inclining your ear and listening. God promises that he will make a covenant of steadfast sure love. You don’t need to do anything just come and listen and live. A new way, a higher way.  A new thought. Our ways and thoughts know that we need to do many things in order to live.

The common question you will be asked or will ask when you meet someone for the first time is “what do you for living?”  Our ways and thoughts know that we must do something for living. Our existence is based on what we are doing. We will be happy to share what we are doing for a living.  On the one hand, I think we are right because for us living is defined by our physical needs.  On the other hand we are wrong because life is not all about eating and drinking.

Honestly, I don’t like that question the way it is asked. I would rather it be asked, “What do you do?” or “What is your job?”  And, stop there. Don’t add the words “for a living.”  For me the idea of defining life or living based on doing or working is diminishing the concept of life only to the physical aspects.  Why?  Because, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Therefore:  In verse 1-2, God is inviting the people to a non-transaction life style. 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. ²Why 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.

In our ways food is a commodity, therefore it should be purchased. In our ways and thoughts it is only the few who can afford food. In our ways, the invitation would be for some.  In God’s higher way, the invitation is for all. “Everyone who is thirsty, come to the water, everyone who is hungry come and eat.”  Without money and without price. You might have noticed that God is saying come and buy. We know that if there is word buy you have to pay. Higher thoughts:  What? Food without money, without a price? Yes without price.

God is inviting us to the water of life. It is in that water that we all are born into the kingdom of God.   That is the gift of baptism. God is inviting us to food. To the body and blood of Christ in which we all are nourished. The question is how is it possible to get the water, the wine, and the food without price? We find the answer in the previous chapter of Isaiah. In chapter 52 and 53 we see the servant of God.  The servant made it possible. (Is. 53:5)   The one who was "wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities" has changed everything.

The servant has "made many righteous" by pouring himself out to death .Why not, then come to the waters, get our food without price, and celebrate the eternal covenant with God?

My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Therefore in Verse 6-8 God is inviting to repentance.  ⁶Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. ⁷let 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.

God is inviting us to use the season. It is clear that God is always with us in all the seasons. This is not about searching God. God had found us already. However, God also blessed us with seasons. We thank God for the blessing of the church year. We are now in a season of Lent where we are encouraged to seek the Lord and focus on our Lord. Let us use the opportunity of Lent to call on God while God is near within the season. Amen.