When did an invitation to dinner require us to bring something?

Something has shifted in our society and it was so subtle that I am perplexed as to when it began. In fact I hadn’t really thought about it until a friend of mine, Jack, pointed it out to me last Thursday night.

 

Jack asked; “When did an invitation to dinner require us to bring something?”

 

He continued with his pondering; “In fact, what is the first question that the average person will ask when invited over to dinner?”

 

Almost in unison several of us responded; “What do you want me to bring?”

 

So when did an invitation to dinner require us to bring something? Who changed the rules for invitations so that we now feel obligated to reply to the request by saying; “What do you want me to bring?”

 

And, as we all know, the host either replies with; “Oh nothing”, or else they reply with; “Oh…why don’t you bring…” requesting something that can be picked up at the local gas station as you are on your way over to the event.

 

As I pondered the question, Jack proceeded to prod our thoughts by stating; “Worse than that, we do the same thing with God.”

 

He invites us to come to Him and spend time with Him and we respond with; “What can I bring?” instead of just saying “yes” to His invitation.

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”(Micah 6:6-7)

 

His response to our question is simply;

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?”(Micah 6:8)

 

He invites us to come and eat and drink:

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)

 

He tells us that He is knocking and wants to come in and spend time with us.

 

Did you catch that? The God of the Universe, Creator of all, is inviting us to spend time with Him and waiting for us to respond to His invitation:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev 3:20)

 

Even when dealing with our sins He tells us:

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

 

And we want to still bring something to the table…as though we ever could!

 

So where are you at today? Have you realized that God has been reaching out to you and has sent an invitation to you to spend time with Him? And He isn’t requiring you to bring anything but yourself?

 

His invitation is simply:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 

 

 “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

 

He is calling out to you today to run to Him; His arms are wide open, waiting to receive you! Come to Him; won’t you? Today, if you will hear His voice:

“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,” (Psalm 95:8)

 

If you would like to know what the Bible says about how you too can begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, call 1-888-NEED-HIM. Someone is waiting to talk to you right now.

 

All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.