Now
Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of
Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came
to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:1-4
Notice and respond to God's daily invitations to intimacy.
While Moses carried out his daily duties, he noticed something unusual: a bush burning, but not burning up! In deserts, bushes catch on fire--and they burn up. Shepherds were used to this. Moses was used to this. But a bush that burned without burning up?
This was a divine invitation.
One that had to be accepted or rejected.
God didn't speak to Moses until Moses decided to go over and look at the bush.
God invites you and me to intimacy daily. But He won't speak unless we respond to His invitations.
So how do we notice invitations from God?
How do you invite people to connect with you?
How do people invite you to connect with them?
Directly and indirectly.
An example of a direct invitation is a friend request on Facebook. But the invitation has to be accepted or confirmed. Then, you have a new Facebook friend! Or someone may suggest a friend for you to invite.
In the same way, God directly invites us by speaking to our hearts and consciences. He comes to us by appealing to our deepest desires for meaning and significance. Our desires to be noticed and missed. We feel a pulling to be noticed. This pull comes from the One who always notices you.
An indirect invitation to connection is like making eye contact with someone and smiling, or leaving a token of affection, like a rose. With both of these, the key is attention given to one who has your affection. He notices you. Or she wants you to know that she notices you. Being noticed is an invitation.
One day at work I looked out of a window and saw a beautiful black bird with red designs on it's wings. The red was striking, but couldn't be noticed until the bird opened it's wings. I felt like God was inviting me to notice this bird, and thus notice Him as it's Creator. Why did I feel this? Because I was in a position where only I would have seen that bird at that moment.
As I write, I am totally alone. Listening to soft rain drops. Surrounded by the stillness and silence of God's presence. This is an invitation we all receive, but that most of us resist. The times when we are alone, in silent stillness, but instead we turn on the TV or radio. But sometimes, like late at night, when we simply cannot sleep, and there is nothing pressing to do, but we are too tired to get out of bed and turn on a TV or some distraction, we have yet another invitation. An invitation to share our thoughts and feelings with God, the only one awake in the house!
God is subtle and gentle and humble. He skillfully gets and keeps our attention, but will not share Himself unless you accept His invitations.
Will you accept God's invitations to intimacy today?
Will you accept His invitation right now?
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