Open Invite
I love an open invitation. There no pressure, I can come anytime – I’m always invited. My kids have an open invitation to come home to visit at anytime. An appointment is not required. I also have some dear friends that I will move my schedule around so that I can accommodate them on their schedule. I love this passage in Isaiah where it’s clear that the Lord has offered me an Open Invitation to come to Him. Check this out….
1 ‘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. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. 9 ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:1,3,6-9 NIV)
The Lord doesn’t expect me to “dress up” for His invite. He calls me as I am. He wants to grow me and change me more into His Likeness. I want my thoughts to be a reflection of His thoughts. I want my heart to reflect the Heart of God. I can change me – Only He can do that. My role is willingness and surrender of my life. He can take the mess I’ve made of things and make them into something beautiful and productive.
This passage reminded me of a great song by David Crowder called “Come As You Are”. Please listen. It’s an open invite from the Lord to come as you are to Him.
Pressing On! Dwayne