Read His Words Before Ours!
Matthew 11:28-30
John 15:1-11
Ezekiel 37: 26-30
Psalm 91:1-2
Revelation 21:1-4
Tabernacle, Day 15
“Hear ye! Hear ye!
I hereby declare all the ladies in the land are invited to a royal ball!”
Remember the scene when the king’s courier arrives to deliver the invitation?
Of course, Cinderella is included, BUT her cruel stepmother has different plans: keeping Cinderella home, slaving away doing chores.
Thankfully, Fairy Godmother comes to the rescue and with the wave of a wand, turns pumpkins into a carriage and transforms torn rags into a magnificent gown.
Cinderella is instantly ready for the ball!
We may not be Cinderella,
but we are most certainly recipients of a royal invitation.
Regardless of our background, ethnicity, economic status, hair color, or jean size,
we have EACH been invited to enter God’s throne room.
Furthermore, our invitation requires no magic and isn’t limited to one night of dancing.
Rather, God has requested our presence with Him EVERY day.
Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:17, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…” God wants to be part of EVERY aspect of our lives.
In the Old Testament, God dwelt in the midst of His people as a cloud or a pillar of fire. (Exodus 13:21-22)
Under the Lord’s direction, the Israelites built a tabernacle that moved with them as they made their way from Egypt to Canaan through the desert. While everyone was able to enter the court of the tabernacle, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the curtained off area where the very presence of God rested. Even then, the high priest only entered the Holy of Holies ONE day each year, to offer sacrifice for sin on behalf of the entire nation. This way of interacting with God via the priest continued for thousands of years…until Jesus came and changed everything!
Jesus basically hand delivered God’s invitation to come dwell with Him;
He was God’s invitation in the flesh.
‘Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”’ (John 14:6)
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls out to the weak and weary,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
In John 6:35 Jesus beckons,
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
In John 7:37-38, Jesus reminds us that TRUE, meaningful, abundant life is found in Him alone, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
His invitation is for anyone and everyone!
After delivering these divine invitations, Jesus then became the final sacrifice.
Just as the high priest in the Old Testament would offer a flawless lamb on behalf of the entire nation’s sin, Jesus, the flawless Lamb of God gave up Himself on our behalf, paying the price for our sins. (1 Peter 1:19)
As Jesus breathed His final breath from the cross, He declared, “It is finished”.
At that moment, the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom, as with the hand of the Almighty and not from man.
The Holy of Holies was now open to everyone, every single day of the year.
Jesus made it possible for us to PERSONALLY enter God’s presence!
Jesus’ invitation still stands.
If you have not yet welcomed Him into your life for the first time,
I encourage you to do so TODAY. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Jesus calls you to come as you are; He is waiting with open arms to lovingly embrace you.
If you have already responded to Jesus’ invitation, I encourage you to keep studying Him!
There will always be more to know about His infinite love and character, which will result in your deeper growth and more beautiful transformation to become like Him. (Philippians 1:9)
Allow His Word to light your way. (Psalm 119:105)
Allow Him to equip you to do the good. (Ephesians 2:10)
Allow Him to empower you with His Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17)
He wants to encourage you, (Philippians 2:1)
sing over you, (Zephaniah 3:17)
bless you with peace. (Psalm 29:11)
He wants to be with you, present in every single aspect of your life, He is your everyday Savior!
God’s invitation to sit in His presence doesn’t come via royal courier,
but rather in the real moments of everyday life.
Perhaps it’s the beauty of a sunset, a connection with a friend, or even your snotty-nosed toddler, or the endless ways you feel overrun. Whatever the moment, even this one right now, know that God IS inviting you to be present with Him.
It’s easy to push SNOOZE on this precious invitation.
I do it more than I would like to admit.
Don’t give in!
Hold onto the truth that whatever your day may hold,
God is inviting us to let Him into EVERY moment.
How will you RSVP?
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