Invitation

This month, we the Be-Held Writers, are focusing on the theme "Invitation". We write to encourage you to say yes to the call of Jesus Christ to intimate relationship with Him. We are excited, aren't you? If you're not, that's completely understandable. It can  be really difficult to muster zeal for something which may be only a vague idea in your mind. What exactly are we inviting you to? What does it mean to have relationship with Jesus Christ? What does it mean for that relationship to be intimate? What experience awaits me on the other side of yes?

Relationship with Jesus Christ
Relationship with Jesus Christ starts with, centers on and is sustained by Him. It is Jesus Christ who invites all who would believe on Him (put their complete faith in Him for the forgiveness of their sins and rely on Him to live a new life in agreement with His will) to be counted as children of God. (John 1: 11 - 13). He opens our eyes to see our inability to meet the righteous requirement of God's law in our own strength and turns our eyes upward to behold the picture of the spotless and sufficient Jesus Christ spread on a cross, paying for our insufficiency. (Romans 5: 6 - 8). He opens the gate, putting before us life and death, and with His sweet Spirit woos us to choose life. He woos us to choose His perfect help and forsake our self-effort. And if we choose life--if we choose Him--He comes with all His glory to live within us. (Ephesians 1: 13 - 14).  We become His and He pledges Himself to us forever.  

Intimacy with Jesus Christ
This pledge--this being made anew--is only the beginning. There are heights and depths of God to be embraced. Every day is an invitation to know Him more--to know He who already knows us perfectly. We come to know Him as we would come to know the dearest of friends. We intentionally spend time with Him. We keenly listen to Him. We speak with Him. We do life with Him--all of life. We don't hold back. He's with us when we rise and when we turn in at night. He's with us everywhere we go and in everything we do. (Psalm 139). And we expectantly invite Him to be our strength and help everywhere and in everything. We receive and we give. And we do this continuously. We say yes to His invitation as often as He makes it: He makes it every second of everyday.

And what is the outcome of entering into the heights and depths of God? It is the working out of our salvation. (Philippians 2: 12 - 13). It is to see the renewed inner man on display in our flesh. It is to be just like Jesus. It is to be perfect and beautiful as He is--light radiating from a pure heart to warm and light a cold world. It is to have fruit in every season (unaltered by shifting circumstances) and never to be in want of any truly good thing. (Galatians 5: 22 - 23; Psalm 1; and Psalm 23: 1). It is to live life more abundantly. (John 10: 10). 

Invitation
Beloved, the Spirit says, "Come." (Revelation 22: 17). If you have yet to say yes to Jesus Christ, today is the day. (2 Corinthians 6: 2). I assure you, that you will not be disappointed. Take that step here.

Go Deeper
Study the scripture below to help you come into a more perfect understanding of the WHAT Jesus Christ invites you to become a part of when you say yes to Him:

1. John 10: 10 - An Abundant Life
2. John 15: 9 - 17 - A Fruitful Life in Him
3. Ephesians 5: 18-21 - A Spirit Filled Life
4. Romans 8: 1 - 17 - A Spirit Filled Life
6. Colossians 1: 15 - 23 - A Right Relationship with God
7. Colossians 2: 6 - 15 -  Spiritual Fullness in Jesus Christ
8. Colossians 2: 16 - 23 - Freedom from Human Rules
9. Colossians 3: 1 - 17 - A Life in Jesus Christ
10. Romans 8: 29 -30 - A Right Relationship with God and Eternal Glory

After studying the scripture, write a description of this life to which you have been called. Be as descriptive as possible. In this called life...

• What do you believe about God, yourself and others?
• What do you do?
• What don’t you do?
• What expectations do you have of yourself?
• What expectations do you have of others?
• What roles do you occupy?
• What do you give?
• What do you receive?
• Who are the people in your life?
• What routines characterize your life?

If as you carried out this exercise you realized that there are parts of your life outside His will, pray to invite Jesus to reconcile those parts of your life with His will. If there are clear topics that emerge, use the index in your Bible to identify scripture, which can provide you with practical wisdom and or replace whatever falsehoods you have believed in that area. Write these scriptures down and meditate on them this week.

Worship: