The King's Invitation

Looking for meaning in your life? Wondering why you're here? Feel like there must be something more? Tired of trying and struggling to make sense of it all? You are hearby invited to find the answers...

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding..." My prayer is something you read here will encourage you to draw closer to the King and enter into His service, and if you do not know this King of Kings, I am honored to deliver His invitation to you. An invitation... to come home.

Know that you have sinned, turn away from your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and allow Him to live in you - accept His invitation, accept His gift of salvation, accept His offer of everlasting life with Him.

God took my wristwatch

kingsinvitation | September 05, 2008 04:33

For many years, I sat in church services on Sunday mornings and listened to the songs and the sermons with one eye on my watch.

After all, it was late Sunday morning and we would be eating lunch shortly after the service ended. We needed to be out of there at a decent time to get the food on the table at home, or to beat the other churches to the good tables at the local Mexican restaurant. Whatever was being said, whatever was happening, it had to be wrapped up by 12. The church I was attending actually had a clock over the entrance facing the altar, so the pastor could see if he was running over "his" time. But one Sunday in the fall of 2001, God took my wristwatch.

A young man had responded to an altar call, and was on his knees fervently seeking God. An older couple was holding hands and praying silently, but intently, for some unspoken issue. The regular prayer warriors were around them, praying. But at 12:00, many in the congregation turned and headed for the door. Lunch was calling. Time was up. And God spoke to my heart saying, "Is this all I get?"

I was crushed. He was speaking to me and of me. I had been limiting Him by limiting the time I was willing to spend in His house. How long will we give a sinner to repent? How long will we give a broken heart to be mended? How long will we give a lonely soul to touch God? How long are we willing to stay and pray for those in need? How long will we wait for God to speak to us? Maybe God wanted to do something for you at 12:01, but you were busy pushing to get past the Widow Johnson shaking hands with the pastor.

Sure, we can worship and pray after the service is over, and we should. But we come together, as scripture commands us, to share in this corporate worship and to edify the body of Christ. How do we put a time limit on that? Why is my desire greater than the needs of these hurting brothers and sisters of mine? I repented, took my watch off, slid it into my pocket and began to pray. Later, I even took the clock down from over the church entrance. (Someone put it back up before the next service!)

As I stopped focusing on the time, and sought only the presence and revelation of God, I began to enjoy my time with Him more and more. Before that day, I had not realized how I had become a slave to time. It was so liberating to be without a watch, in fact, I stopped wearing one at home, at work, at play! Still don't. Maybe one day I’ll get the nerve up to toss my cell phone, too!

Take the church to someone this week – you’ll both benefit.

King’s Invitation Ministries

http://ministry-webs.com/ministry/kingsinvitation/index.html