Devotional

The Invitation

Ready 

“So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing.” -- 2 Peter 1:10

Set 

A well-trained, competitive triathlete received an email in his inbox inviting him to compete in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. He had competed successfully as a top finisher in his age group and qualified, earning a spot on Team USA. The years of hard training, competing and peak performance had paid off. He accepted the invitation and joined the team!

God extends an invitation to each one of us to join Him in a personal relationship through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is by His grace alone that we receive this invitation and when we accept, we are on His team. Our personal performance and hard work won’t get us there. Jesus paid the price and took our sins to the cross, giving us access to enter a relationship with God, the Father. Those who have accepted Him have the assurance of salvation and a home in Heaven. That’s a Home Team advantage!

It’s doesn’t stop there though. God continues to send us invitations in our faith journey. He invites us to join Him in His work. Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God says, “We don't choose what we will do for God; He invites us to join Him where He wants to involve us. Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work. The truth is that God can do anything He pleases through an ordinary person who is fully dedicated to Him.”

One definition of invitation is “to request the presence or participation of.” God invites us to spend time in His presence. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'” He invites us to share our faith. He commands us to. We see this in Mark 16:15: “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”’

I believe He also invites us to pray—to have a two-way conversation with Him. When you feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit, that’s His invitation. When we have negative or critical thoughts of someone or something, that’s God’s invitation to pray specifically for that person or thing. Accept the invitation, pray!

2 Peter 1:10, the Message translation says, “So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing.” God’s invitation is real, and it’s rewarding, accept it and be blessed.

Go 
  • How are you responding to God’s invitation in the examples listed above?
  • What do you need to say no to in order to say yes to Jesus’s invitation?
  • Who else can you invite to join you in this faith journey?
Workout 

Matthew 11:28-30; John 7:37-39; Luke 9:23-26

Overtime 

“Father, thank You for inviting me into Your family and into a personal relationship with You, through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that leads, guides and directs me in every way and in every day of my life. Help me to respond to every invitation from You with passion, purpose and priority.”

Bible Reference: 
2 Peter 1:10
Matthew 11:28-30
John 7:37-38
Luke 9:23-26