Invitation to a King

Who would consider going, without invitation, into the presence of a great king.  These days, even if one is requested to see our President I'm sure he must pass through layers of security and many scrutinizing eyes.  It is the King who gives the orders and makes the big decisions that affect millions of lives.  Of course we have earthly kings and we have the one Heavenly King who is God, Himself.  He rules from a throne that is in the heavenly dimension but His domain includes all His creation.  He is building an eternal kingdom with subjects who come from across generations as well as across oceans, mountains and rivers.  He has invited us to enter the gates of His land through the gateway of His Son, whose shed blood has provided the key to that door.  Remarkably, once we have entered through that grand gate we still retain much freedom.  We can choose to look to the King for direction or we can scurry about the land living as if we were not His subjects.  Once we have responded to His invitation we have the privilege, daily, of inviting Him into our lives.  How rare to live in a kingdom where the citizens have the freedom to invite the King into their lives.  We can choose to think of Him, to listen to His pure words, to acknowledge His presence and to bow before His greatness.  For He is grand and yet He would be our friends.

 

2 Chronicles 30:6 (The Message)

 ^6-9 The king gave the orders, and the couriers delivered the invitations from the king and his leaders throughout Israel and Judah. The invitation read: "O Israelites! Come back to God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he can return to you who have survived the predations of the kings of Assyria. Don't repeat the sins of your ancestors who turned their backs on God, the God of their ancestors who then brought them to ruin—you can see the ruins all around you. Don't be pigheaded as your ancestors were. Clasp God's outstretched hand. Come to his Temple of holy worship, consecrated for all time. Serve God, your God. You'll no longer be in danger of his hot anger. If you come back to God, your captive relatives and children will be treated compassionately and allowed to come home. Your God is gracious and kind and won't snub you—come back and he'll welcome you with open arms."

 

blessings,

Rob Smith