you’re invited

It happened twice today.

Quiet, unassuming, and yet oh, so significant, the invitation came.

photo courtesy of ©Depositphotos.com / jirkab

The first was in conversation with a friend over coffee this morning.  Open, compassionate, and genuinely curious, she asked me: “What’s been hard about all that you’ve been through recently?”

And there it was – the invitation: You’re in a safe place.  Be authentic.  Tell the truth.

The second was in conversation with another friend this afternoon: “Is there an Anglican church near you?  You should go, and take communion.”

And there it was – the invitation: You are always welcome at the Table, and you need what it represents.  Come, for all things are now ready.

Sometimes we can forget that the God of the Bible is a God of invitation, but His Word makes it so clear:

“Come now, and let us reason together…” – Isaiah 1:18 (NASB)

“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.” – Isaiah 55:1 (NIVUK)

Or this, one of my favorite glimpses of Jesus:

“Turning round, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’

They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’

 ‘Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him…”
– John 1:38-39 (NIVUK)

And in case we missed it the first few times:

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” – Revelation 22:17 (NIVUK)

We are invited.

You are invited.

God wants to talk with you; He wants to hear your heart.  And if you’re willing to listen, you will hear His invitation everywhere.

My friends weren’t necessarily setting out to remind me of God’s standing invitation. They were just being themselves – but as followers of Jesus, they naturally reflected His heart to me today.

Never underestimate the power of a compassionate question, or a well-meaning piece of advice.  They may be the simple, quiet ways that God will use you to speak into someone’s life – or they may be the ways He is speaking to you.

Listen. Do you hear Him?

“You’re invited.”

Always.