Jesus, I Come

There is something so beautiful about being with those who love Jesus.

Recently I had the great privilege of sitting with a few folks who love following Jesus. They’re down to earth, honest folks. They are not into Christianese, they don’t follow many of the traditional church conventions of practice, because they’re honest types. (I’ll wait for the arrows to stop flying.)

In that gathering of saints among other topics of discussion was the simplicity and beauty of being able to be honest with God. There is room to love Him and express how great He is and how wonderful He is. That is so important in our relationship with Him. Just as important is how we engage with Him. There’s no point putting on a performance and slipping on a pious mask in prayer. He sees right through it and your engagement with Him won’t be from a pure heart. When that heart is clear before Him and you give your burdens to Him there is something really refreshing about that. He is not rejecting that, especially if in the honesty there is still a desire to connect with Him.

Something was also said in that company that stuck with me. There are some occasions and settings that stress the importance of inviting God into a situation, looking for God to come down, looking for the presence to fill the place, desiring Him to do the coming. I’m sure there’s a place for that. What was said in this gathering, though, was how it’s important for us to go into the presence. For us to go where God is. How we should make the most of everything that has been done for us to respond to God’s invitation to come to Him.

It was very simple. It was hugely profound.

We can come to Him. We are invited to come to Him. The way has been made, the Spirit has been given, the opportunity is open and the Father awaits. As we come we don’t have to have any airs and graces. He is King, He is Ruler, He is Lord and He is Majestic – He is our Father and He invites us to come to Him, to be with Him. Even as He has so long desired to be with us.

It remains so true that He has done so much to be with us and now we get to do all we can to be with Him. The desire for heaven to be on earth starts with our hearts focusing on where He is, what heaven is like, where He rules.

It’s a tremendous privilege that I don’t always appreciate. In that gathering, though, there was a rich and profound appreciation of that. It is another reason why I am so grateful for the community of grace in which I can learn and experience these truths.

So as we are invited, let’s respond by saying we will come.

(Photo by Daniel Jensen on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden