The Invitation ~ by: robin moroney

“In Him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:11
When I recently went into the hospital for surgery, I was absolutely at peace with what was going to happen to me. I had no fear or anxiety whatsoever. However, at one point when I was in the operating room, during the split second before I was knocked out, I remember seeing the doctor, a nurse and the anesthesiologist standing next to my operating table. And just at that split second when the drugs started taking effect and I felt that awful intensely loud humming in my head, I thought, “Uh-oh. I remember this feeling and I hate it. I don’t want to do this.” And in my mind, the doctor stood there looking at me and thinking, “You can try to fight this all you want but you can’t stop it from happening.”

I argue with God. . . . A lot. So I think God must stand at my side on a regular basis with his arms folded across His chest, a knowing smile on His face and maybe a little shake of the head saying, “Robin, you can fight Me all you want. But you cannot stop this from happening. You cannot stop Me from accomplishing My plans.”

God invites us to be a part of His plans for us and for His kingdom. He loves to bless us in wonderful ways when we decide to take part in His plans. But sometimes, we don’t want to join Him. Sometimes we don’t like what He’s asking us to do. Sometimes it seems too hard or too scary. And sometimes we choose to not participate because we just don’t understand.

When I was growing up, I remember mealtimes as being very stressful. My brothers remember our life a lot different than I do. But I remember that there was very little talking or laughing at the dinner table. And there certainly was no singing. To me, dinner needed to be eaten as quickly as possible so you could get up and go to your room before someone got in trouble.

So when I met my husband and went to his parent’s house for dinner the first time, I was shocked that not only did they all talk during dinner (sometimes all at the same time), but they laughed and even sang songs. I thought they were a bunch of crazy people. And then, after dinner, they did something even more insane. They cleared the table then ~ GASP!!!! ~ they all sat back down and played cards . . . . Together!!! And they actually talked to each other!! And as other members of the family would come over to the house, they would all move around the table, pull up another chair and the new person would join in! Craziness!

I was so unfamiliar with this type of behavior that for many, many years I did not participate in the family card games. Instead, I would sit in another room reading a book or watching TV. My decision to not participate did not stop them from continuing with their fun. They went right on having a good time without me. I was always welcome to join them. There was always room at the table for me. But instead, I chose to sit on the outside looking in and feeling just a little out of sorts about it. It did not make me happy that I was left out. And I refused to admit to myself that it was a self-imposed exile. I was always asked to join in the fun. But I chose to sit in the other room alone.

I didn’t admit it at the time, but when I chose to sit in the other room rather than join the fun, I felt left out, uncertain and, yes, even jealous. I also felt uncomfortable with people showing so much joy. The family wanted me to join them. But my uncertainty kept me from the blessing of being a part of the fun. And they were not going to stop having a good time just because I chose to sit in the other room.

I’m so glad they continued the fun without me. Because one day I decided to join them at the card table. And boy am I glad I did. It was a blast! And from those card games, I forged relationships with my in-laws that are still strong today. Even though my marriage did not survive, my friendships with the rest of the family have. And now I know that if I had continued to not participate in those card games, I would have missed out on so much laughter and just plain fun. If I had continued to not join the party, I would have missed out on so many incredible blessings.

Isn’t that how our life with God is? God continues to invite us to His party. Even when we’re uncertain and scared. Even when we don’t understand. He never stops reaching out to us and making a place for us at His table ~ there is always room. And if we choose not to join Him, the party will go on without us. God’s plans will not stop just because we decide not to participate.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai gets wind of a plot to totally destroy the Jewish population. So he goes to his cousin, Esther, who is the queen, and asks her to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jewish people. Esther fearing for her life sends a message to Mordecai saying that she doesn’t think it’s such a good idea for her to approach the king. Then Mordecai sends this message back to Esther:

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place . . . And who knows but that you have come to the royal position for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14-16
Mordecai is saying that God’s plan to save the Jews will be carried out with or without Esther’s help. God’s will most definitely will be done. Mordecai also said that, quite possibly, the whole reason Esther was queen was for just this very purpose. But Esther had a choice. She could choose to participate or she could walk away from God’s calling. So Esther chose to do as Mordecai asked. She chose to participate in God’s plan.

Can you imagine the joy and relief the Jewish people must have felt when King Xerxes listened to Esther and then stopped the plot to destroy their entire population? Esther was Jewish so she must have felt just as much joy and relief as everyone else. Don’t you know there was just the teensiest bit of “Oh, yeah! I did good! I helped! I’m queen!!!” coming from Esther’s room? And imagine how horrible it would have been for Esther if she had missed out on being a part of such a great blessing.

If we fight God and refuse His invitation, we could be missing out on an incredible blessing. We could be missing out on the very reason God has us in a certain place. Whoa! Now that will make you pause. And if we choose to not join God, we might never know what blessings we missed. Like Esther, if I had continued to not participate, I would have missed out on so many incredible blessings. Now that’s just plain sad.

God wants us to join Him in His plans for His kingdom. He wants to bless us in so many ways when we join Him. But He has also given us those two pesky words ~ free will. We can either choose to join Him or we can choose to fight Him and walk away. God will accomplish His goals with or without us. The fun will go on even if we don’t join in. And if we choose to not join Him, we may be missing the very blessing that God has for us at that very moment. And we could be missing out on the very reason we are in a certain place in our lives. Yikes! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss this party.

God wants us to become enmeshed in His plans for His kingdom. Not just sit on the sidelines looking in. We can try to fight Him. We can say, “Oh, no. I don’t like that. I’m scared. I’m not going to help You.” But make no mistake, God’s plans for His kingdom will always come to pass. The question is, will you choose to participate? Will you choose to join God in His plans for your life and for His kingdom? Will you accept the chair He has pulled up to His table for you? Or will you choose to sit in the other room watching the fun and blessings go on without you?

Remember: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” Matthew 6:10
Precious Father, we thank You so much for choosing us to participate in Your plans. We thank You for inviting us to Your party. Please help us fight the enemy who whispers in our ears and tells us that it’s more fun in the other room. Help us to know Your good and perfect will for our lives. And give us the courage to join You at the table. Amen. ~Robin