by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God’s Two-Way Invitation

For those of you concerned about my safety, yes, I made sure that there were no cars coming or going when I took this picture. I am frequently in a hurry to cross a street so that I don’t get run over which is a good idea. Fortunately, it only takes a couple of seconds to stop, take a picture and keep moving.

As I sat with this picture, it dawned on me that the double yellow line separates cars by inches as the head in two different directions, as they come and go. In the thought of two cars passing, I see a picture of our relationship with God. We are both coming into his presence and going into the world throughout our day.

“Let us come into [the Lord’s] presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.”
Psalm 28:19 English Standard Version

The psalmist invites us to “meet the face” of God which is a literal translation of coming into his presence, and we are to do so with thanksgiving. Every day you and I are invited to come into God’s presence through Jesus who stands between us and the Father, opening the way into his gracious arms. It is the presence of God that we find a reason to sing for joy. Jesus has paved the road on which the Holy Spirit brings us into God’s presence.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19a ESV

Jesus invites us into his work of making disciples. We are invited to go to different people groups to be Jesus in those places, tribes into which God has placed us. There is our family tribe, our work tribe, and recreation tribe. These are the tribes among which we go and make disciples.

And like two cars passing each other on the road, we both come into God’s presence and go to the nations throughout our day. Today God invites us to shout for joy in his presence. Today he invites us to go into the world. Thank God for his invitation!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado