05 Mar You are INVITED

 
I was studying for PLANTED one morning when my seven-year old was vying for my attention. He was wiggling around and, frankly, I was getting a bit irritated. “John-John, this is Mommy’s quiet time,” I humphed. After all, it was early on a Saturday morning, and I had more “important” things to accomplish. 

On a side note: To “humph” means: interjection, a snort, articulated with a voiceless onset and ending in a nasal stop. Try humphing sometime, the nasal stop can quicken you back to reality.

It did for me.

John was persistent. He inched closer and closer, until I realized all he wanted to do was to sit in my lap. Ding-dong, anyone home?

I am ashamed to tell you that I was studying about the children wanting to SIT in Jesus’ lap. I was struck by the analogy. Jesus wants us to come and to SIT in His lap, too.

He is never too busy. Never distracted.
Never studying too hard.

And probably has never “humphed” before.

On the contrary, Jesus invites.

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children COME to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)

Jesus invites us to come and sit.

Parents were bringing their children to sit in Jesus’ lap and feel the touch and blessing of God. The children felt secure in His love and were welcomed by His open hands. I’m sure His smile was big and His laughter was contagious. However, in this sweet picture of Jesus, we see the true hearts of the disciples. They were “indignant” that Jesus was spending His time hanging around children. Perhaps they felt the urgency that He needed to spend His time with more “important” people. In today’s language, Jesus needed to be more concerned with building His audience, posting His latest miracle to gain “likes,” and grow His platform to grow His ministry. To the disciples, these children and their parents were a pesky nuisance and an interruption to something more important that needed to be done.

Like me.

I am sad to say that my attitude was more like the disciples the day John-John jumped in my lap.

I, too, can get bogged down by what I think is more important rather than recognizing the ministry opportunity right in front of me.

I, too, can get indignant when I have an agenda, especially when ministry is concerned.

I, too, can get caught up the urgency to appeal to those “more important” instead of touching and blessing those right in front of me.

The attitude of Jesus is more of what I desire. I am invited to sit with Him each day in the presence of His love and compassion and grace. Jesus is not in a hurry. He doesn’t have ulterior motives. His thoughts are not miles away with someone else’s concern. No. YOU are the ministry right in front of Him. Lay down your burdens and cast off your worries. He is inviting you to put off your “important” ambitions and come to Him . . . like a child.

He had all the time in the world to bless these little ones, and He has all the time in the world to bless you, too. Don’t miss the invitation.

When we come, we aren’t distracted by the “more important.”

When we come, we are connected to the MOST IMPORTANT.

When we sit with Him, we become more like Him. And when we feel His touch, we extend the touch to others. We become an extension of the invitation. By our filling UP with His blessing, we overflow into the lives of those right in front of us. That’s the blessing. That’s real ministry.

With a big smile and contagious laughter, Jesus says, “Come.” You are invited.

Come to be touched and blessed by God.

Come to overflow into the lives of others.

Come and sit.

Come.

An excerpt from Planted: Sit, Stand, and Walk with Jesus by Annie Pajcic. ©2013