READING FOR APRIL 16, 2026: ISAIAH 55, 1 CORINTHIANS 10, PSALM 32:6-11 ISAIAH 55 This writer has never seen the movie The Godfather, but is aware of the line, “An offer you can’t refuse.” In verse one, God makes us an unbelievably great offer that sadly too many refuse. Anyone who thirsts for meaning, love, direction, inner peace, and eternal life, may come to the Lord to receive all this and more. We cannot buy this with money, our good works, our education, our accomplishments or family connections. It is all free to us because Jesus paid it all! Yet, many of us work like crazy to acquire worthless idols, even though they do not provide satisfaction. All we really need is to come to Him alone in faith, to listen for His call intently, and choose what He alone is offering. Our response to that offer is the most important decision we will ever make. Are we keeping Him waiting?
God tells us to consider David. Yes, he was gifted as a writer, musician, warrior, and visionary King, but He was also a great sinner: a murderer, hypocrite, adulterer and liar. Yet, God showed Him great mercy. He chose Him to be King of Israel, through whom He brought the Son of God to this world. Why? “He [God] raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus. (Acts 13:22-23).
Verse six implies we may not have an opportunity to find God if we don’t respond now: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” Ever put something off until it is too late? We never know if we will live through the night: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.” (Luke 12:20-21).
In verse seven, Isaiah pleads for sinners to turn to Him now, no matter what evil we have done, and we can receive all that is promised here. We might think this is not possible or even that it’s unfair to bless someone who has lived in sin all his life. In response God says, “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts”’ (vs. 8-9).
Verse 11 provides this writer all the motivation necessary for reading and obeying the Bible: “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.” Only then can we experience all reality in its most heightened sense: “For you will go out with joy and be led in peace; The mountains and the hills will break into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands”
1 CORINTHIANS 10 Verses 1 – 13 – Paul calls the faithful to learn from the history of God’s people. He lists several Biblical stories where people perished due to their lack of faith. Paul warns that these stories were preserved so that we can learn from them and not fall into sin.
READINGS FOR APRIL 16, 2026 CONTINUED: 1 CORINTHIANS 10, PSALM 32:6-11
Paul also tells us that through God’s strength, the faithful can overcome every temptation. Satan may be powerful. But, God is more powerful if we allow our faith to pull us through.
Verses 14 – 33 – Paul now begins teaching about idolatry. He cautions the Corinthian church not to participate in the feasts offered to pagan gods. His reasoning is that participating in the actual feast constitutes condoning the worship of idols. To support this teaching, Paul begins with a short discussion about the Lord’s Supper. He will go into more depth about it later in his letter. For now, he uses the practice of the Lord’s Supper to underscore its significance. The people undertake the ritual to enter a time of fellowship with the resurrected Christ. The taking of the cup and the bread is a form of worship. Paul further emphasizes the ritual sacrifices that the people of Israel undertake at the Temple as a way of worship. If we believe that these are acts of worship, then we must accept that eating at a pagan feast is off limits.
Paul then gives some suggestions for the way to live:
1. Eating food from the market is acceptable (even if it was from a pagan temple – see early discussion in Chapter 8).
2. If you go to a pagan’s home, eat what is served to you with one exception.
3. The exception is if the host tells you that the meal is part of a pagan feast. Then you should not eat the meat sacrificed.
Paul ends the chapter by saying that whatever you do, do it in a manner that honors God. Even what we eat, how we eat it, and where we eat it can be a way of honoring God. The way we live should not cause anyone to stumble as we are living our lives.
PSALM 32:6-11 This is the second half of a psalm giving praise to God for God’s forgiveness. It begins with a call for all who have faith to pray to God. It is God alone who will protect us from the trouble. It is God who delivers us from our sin. The psalm then turns to give instruction to the worshippers. The Psalmist (David) instructs us to not be stubborn like the horse or mule. We must be open to God’s leading. The psalm ends by a call to the righteous to worship God. God’s love will surround us as we live faithfully. We are to sing praise to the God who loves.
