One morning as I was
spending time in the Word, My dog Beamer came up to cuddle beside me. I called
to Kari, my other dog who was across the room, to come also. (I have two dogs
and two sides so there is plenty of room.) But Kari stayed aloof that morning.
She jumped up on the other couch and snuggled into the afghan that was there.
David came down from
upstairs and gave the dogs their morning vitamins and dental sticks. He then
let them outside before he left for work. After this, the dogs went to their
favorite chairs in the living room, while I continued to study in the den.
As I was wrapping up my
study time, Kari came and jumped up on the couch beside me. It was really time
for me to go so that I could finish getting ready for work, but I gave her five
minutes of belly rubs and cuddling. I then hurried to get ready for work. I
regretted that it could only be five minutes, but I really had no time left
before I needed to get out the door in order to make it to work. As I
fixed my hair and lunch, I considered how much more time Kari and I could have
shared had she only come earlier, when I initially called for her.
My
thoughts then turned to how much time I may have missed with God by not coming
when He first calls.
What do
I have to do that is so important that I cannot immediately say, “I’m coming,
Abba.” Is cleaning the kitchen, reading a book, watching TV
or playing a computer game really that important? None of these things are bad,
but nor are they never reasons to ignore God’s call to time away with
Him. Is working in a ministry
or helping others more important than coming when the Father calls? Rest is a good thing, but is hitting that snooze
button the best thing I can do? Jesus
tells the story of a man who gave the banquet and invited many. (See Luke
14:16-24) One by one they came
with excuses. One had recently bought land, another had purchased oxen and a
third had recently married. The man giving the banquet said, “ Go
out into the highways and hedges and urge and constrain [them] to
yield and come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you,
not one of those who were invited shall taste my supper.” (Luke 14-24
AMP) I do not want this to be the
result of my inattention to God’s invitations. No excuse is worth
missing what God has called me to.
So what does this
invitation from the Lord sound like? At times it is a call to
listen. “Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will]
and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make
an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy
(kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.” (Isaiah 55:3
AMP) At other times it is a call to rest. Jesus called out, “ Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I
will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your
souls.]” (Matthew 11:28 AMP) And still at another time it is a
call to romance. (See Song of Solomon chapter 4) In these and other
places in the Bible, God has made it obvious that He longs for us to come and
spend time close to Him. As a Father for His children, a Bridegroom for
His bride and a Friend for a friend; God longs for us. (Isn’t that
amazing?!)
It is our choice to
respond to His call. We can be like Beamer was that morning and come
of our own choice to an open invitation. We can come as soon as we
hear our name called. Or we can set our own schedule. I
hope I will always share the feelings of the psalmist when he said. “But
it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in
the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your
works.” (Psalm 73:28 AMP) God never has somewhere
else to go like I did that morning. He will always be there when we call. So
come often. But, to come when He calls is the best! Answering
regular invitations can preclude the need to run in times of trouble.
So what will your
response be when God calls to you? Will you come immediately? Will
you delay and only receive some of what you could have? Will you
ignore the call or make excuses and not listen to His voice. The
choice is yours. Choose well.
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