An Invitation

There is something incredibly difficult about vulnerability. Being raw with someone. Our heart exposed. As I begin this new blog, I'm excited to have a place to journal lessons, thoughts, reflections -- to type into my keyboard what runs through the corners of my mind. It's a strange feeling right now, where no one has my blogsite address. You know it could just be a journal for me and God. That would pretty cool...but I have one of those. There is the joy of sharing something that's on your heart, something that may encourage someone else in their faith journey -- and I would hate to miss out on that. Even now though, I'm tempted to close off to some and I wonder why.

Vulnerability. This past week I read the following: "We can only risk stepping out when we are resting in the love of God. When we have received His verdict on our lives -- that we are chosen and dearly loved. Then we are free to offer. Entrusting ourselves to God. We don't get to wait to offer our lives until we have our life together. If we did, would anyone ever feel like offering anything? God asks us to be vulnerable. He invites us to share and give in our weaknesses.

To live as an authentic, ransomed, and redeemed woman means to be real and present in this moment. If we continue to hide, much will be lost. We cannot have intimacy with God or anyone else if we stay hidden and offer only who we think we ought to be or what we believe is wanted.

What have we to offer, really, other than who we are and what God has been pouring into our lives? He will lead you first into Himself; and then, with Him, He will lead you into the world that He loves and needs you to love. It is by Invitation." John and Stasi Eldridge, Captivating

In the book of John we have another invitation. In the first chapter, John tells us to clear the way for the LORD's coming! (John 1:23) Look! There is the Lamb of God! After getting our attention twice with the command to look, he invites us in. Come and see. Jesus invites Philip to "Come, be My disciple. Follow Me." Philip in turn includes more in the invitation when he says to Nathanael, "Just come and see for yourself."

The Greek for see is eido or oida. It means, "to perceive by any of the senses, notice, discern, discover, to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything, to pay attention, observe, look at, behold, to have an interview with, to visit, to have regard for one, cherish." I love that. How often do we let things roll past our senses, and we miss what comes our way? Every day, we have an opportunity to clear the way for the LORD's coming. Tune in our senses. Pay attention. Turn our eyes to behold Him. Come and see for yourself.

In the quote I shared above, it said to be authentic and redeemed means to be real and present in this moment. Intimacy with God comes from being vulnerable with Him, open and raw, so that He can pour Himself into our hearts. Then we have something incredible to offer. He leads us first to Himself to be with Him, then He leads us out -- to tell the world, to give His love. It is by invitation.

I like how personal it gets when it tells us in plain words, "Come and see for yourself." Don't settle for hearing about someone else's great quiet time, or someone else's worship or prayers. Draw near. Nestle in to the love of God. John 4:42 bears witness to this concept. "Now we believe because we have heard Him ourselves, not just because of what you told us." Look -- come -- see. That invitation is for you.