We’ve been house hunting recently, and with that of course comes the repeated evaluation of every feature of house after house, and a ranking (and shuffling, and reshuffling) of priorities: Is it an acceptable distance from work or church, is it in good repair, does a larger lot offset less living space, how far is too far, and the analysis is seemingly never ending. (I have the spreadsheet to prove it.) One aspect of these evaluations is hospitality, the impact each house’s location and layout might have on our willingness to invite people into our space.
In connection with that, I started noticing the invitations we see in Scripture, the bidding to enter into community and fellowship with God’s people, and a right relationship with the Lord Himself. I wanted to highlight just a few of them that have been as hidden treasure for my soul. I think they speak for themselves; anything I could add to them would be superfluous and redundant, and would detract from the beauty of the passages themselves.
Psalm 66:16 – “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.”
Psalm 95:1-3 – “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Isaiah 55:1-2 – “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”
Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Which of these is most encouraging or comforting to you right now? How will you respond to these invitations today or this week?
All of the above are great invitations that the Lord has given us. My favorite is Isaiah 55:1-2. It not only relates to our basic need of Christ but makes us think on why we spend our time and effort on something that is so temporal, as the things of this world are. The Lord has His hand out to us, it is up to us to put aside what the world has and grasp His hand in ours.