Take time to invite Him in
Do we go straight to our notifications first thing in the morning or when we get up, or do we first check in with Him? I’m guilty! In fact, it’s what prompted me to ask this question.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and (sup) dine with him, and he with Me. Revelations 3:20
God is a gentle God. He doesn’t barge in. He longs to spend time with us and is just waiting for an invite in! Are you too busy like Martha? Too busy doing good things while forgetting the one thing that’s needful? All else is will become secondary when we take time, like Mary, to come and learn to sit at Jesus' feet. Let’s learn from Him. The only way to do that is to take time with and for Him.
We go to Him often to just get prayers answered, but we can go to get more acquainted with Him and to know what He wants us to do. First, He wants us to become familiar with Him, to take time to dine with Him, like we do friends and loved ones. To commune back and forth. To not only get to know Him better but as we dine, but to get closer and to Him, as we get on a deeper more intimate level. True friends! Not just acquaintances.
There’s something to say about dining as Jesus did dine often with the disciples and others. Even before death, we recognize the last supper. A signification of how closeness, unity, bonding, and fellowship is not only important but done over a meal. Jesus said that He is the living waters and bread of life. May we hunger and thirst for Him, and for more time with Him.
We caught up in hustle and bustle in this culture, hoping to get more but only ending up with less. Yea, maybe we have more stuff but we have more of a void now than we ever did, that only He can fill. We dig ourselves deeper into a pit when we leave Him out. We may come empty, but we don’t have to leave empty. We can invite Him in first thing. To recognize that when our eyes open, or when our feet hit the floor, or when we awaken - to realize that it is He that woke us up. That we’re still here and that He’s still the God that provided the day and a way. Why not start it with Him? Feed off His word, enjoy the silence, and listen for Him. Turn off and tune out the noise if you can, in order to put Him first. It’s an honor and a privilege to get alone and spend time with the Savior of the world; the God of the universe. We must view it as so or we won’t.
We must be the ones that invite Him in and first. Before anything else and any before we answer any notification or enticement that would yelp for our attention. Maybe it’s time to rewind and slow down, and stop trying to spin our wheels just to go nowhere. Have the attitude of: No! No to everything else and yes to God. Whatever, whenever and however that looks and fits best for you! Yes God, I’m gonna sit here and dine with You. I’m gonna get to know you and get so full of you that when I do go out there, that I have enough to pass around. And each day I’ll continue to come back to dine with You, inviting you in. He’s with us all the time. But we must take time to invite Him in.
That’s good news. He invited us to come to His table and He stands at our hearts and homes doors. Knocking... Waiting… But, will we invite and let Him in? Will we only if it’s convenient and/or maybe ‘after’ everything else is done? No, the early bird gets the worm.
Do we make room in the inn??? Are we too cluttered for Him? Mind, body, soul, and physical space?! He doesn’t care about your clutter or mess. He sees it anyway. He just wants in. He is the clean-up crew. He will help and instill in you what you need to get through and you to get it all untangled. We aren’t just made to sit idle but we were born to do and to do good works, but there’s an order! The mornings are the best and those who seek Him Early find Him. Not everyone’s mornings look the same and some morning may be night shift for some but whatever it is, set YOUR day up for success, not failure.
What do you want ME to do Lord? Don’t let me miss the presented opportunities that’s all around because I’m too busy to see. It’s good news that we can come and let Him In. The better news is, we can come any time!!!! Don’t miss it for the world and the busyness. Don’t miss it for the hustle and bustle. That culture will lie to you. He’s where it’s at!!
As Rick Warren wrote this morning in a devotion about making time for what matters at Christmas He said this:
“The trivial things I’m talking about are not evil things. You can fill your life with good things that keep you from spending time with God. You can be involved in ministry all the time and be so busy working for God that you don’t leave God any time to work in you.
An example of this can be seen in Mary and Martha, who were sisters and also friends of Jesus. One day they invited him to their home for a meal. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to his teaching. Martha was busy worrying about the food and making sure everything was in place.
Doesn’t that sound like Christmas? You spend months buying and wrapping gifts, decorating the house, putting up the lights, fixing the tree, sending out cards, preparing meals, and planning parties. Then, when Christmas arrives, you realize you were so busy with the preparation that you didn’t make any time for Jesus.”
We can be too busy and we can be busy doing good things that shouldn’t be first things. A good way that the enemy distracts is with busyness. He lies to us is that if we aren’t busy, we aren’t good. We can be worried about many things like Martha, and we’ve all been there, or we can do the one true thing that truly matters first! That thing won’t be taken from us! Don’t let anything or anyone take or rob you of your time with God. Take time to spend…. He’s waiting for you to let Him inn this season and all throughout the years of your life. Each day. Begin here. Now. Make room on the inn-side of your heart and home.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8
To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. Psalm 42:1
As I am reminded of a deer panting, I’m also reminded that it’s not just a beautiful picture of a deer by a stream. Panting is to long for. As Jesus longs to spend time with us, so must we long to spend time with Him. I know there’s lots of worn out, burned out individuals/souls out there and those are the ones that God invites to come. (Matthew 11:28-30) He invites us all.
Ever seen a dog thirsty with his tongue hung out? Not quite the visual that I wanted to paint but may we be so thirsty and hungry for God, His goodness, and His Word (food) that we come to the bread and living waters, and seek Him out as a deer would seek out a refreshing stream. May we respond to the knock that has gotten almost silent as we’ve possibly ignored for far too long. May we not wait until we’re desperate to come but come desperate if you may! Today is as good a day as any. In fact, today is the day of salvation. What are you waiting on? Let Him in. Take time to sit at His feet.
Isaiah 55
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.
2 WHY spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 GIVE ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:2-3
He invites us to come: He wants us to let Him in. Is there room within?
