Come and Get It!

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...my cup overflows."  Psalm 23:5

I once believed that a deep relationship with God was only available to those consecrated in ministry; that I was somehow not worthy or "high enough" to enter into an intimate relationship with the Creator.  I recently heard a friend make the same type of remark...hence this full confession from me!

Through the death of my daughter, God graciously invited me (invited me again, that is; somehow I missed God's original invitation to an intimate relationship with Him through my salvation) to meet Him at the cross.  What does that mean exactly, to "meet Him at the cross?"  To me, meeting God at the cross depicts the glorious fact that through the death of Jesus - on the cross - I am able to enter into a relationship with God.  Without Jesus, I am not able to enter a relationship with God, because without Jesus, no penalty was paid for my sin, my sin is not forgiven, and a perfect God can not associate with my sinfulness.

Though God promises a life of goodness to those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9), I did not see how those things would hold true for me after enduring my daughter's death.  However, after six months of wrestling with God, I felt the Holy Spirit saying, "Just trust me.  Come to the table and let me show you the great feast I have prepared."  I had no other hope on which to go.  I guess you could say, I didn't have any other plans...my plans for my life were cancelled by my daughter's death.  So this time, I accepted the invitation.

I came to the banquet empty-handed.  I yielded all my expectations; I surrendered all my hopes, my plans, my ideas, and simply chose to seek what God prepared for me.  Since seeking His will, His ways, His love, all hope has been restored...my cup truly overflows.  Jesus once said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35)."

God extends the same invitation to each of us.  Though it can be hard for some to believe, He longs for us - each of us - to enter into an intimate relationship with Him; to pull up a seat at His table.  You are, in fact, worthy!  He loves each of us so much that He sacrificed His own Son just so that we could join Him in His House.

Accept the invitation.  Take a seat at His table.  See what He has prepared for you.  The great feast is ready.  It is up to you to come and get it!